The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), which stated that the law has been approved by the National Diet after submission in April 2024, noted that the law aims to create a competitive environment where innovation flourishes and users can choose from a variety of services.
“The bill aims to develop a competitive environment in which innovation by various entities is activated through competition and consumers can select and enjoy various services created by innovation, while ensuring security, etc. with respect to software particularly necessary for the use of smartphones (mobile operating systems (OS), application stores, browsers, and search engines, collectively referred to as “Specified Software”),” the Japanese regulator added.
What Apple and Google have to say
While Apple is concerned about the law’s impact on its users’ privacy and security experience with iPhones, Google said it will continue to work with the government throughout the legal process.
“We will continue our engagement with the Japan Fair Trade Commission during the implementation period. It added that it remains “concerned about how the law will impact Japanese consumers and the secure and private iPhone experience our users have come to expect,” Apple told Japanese news agency Kyodo News.
“We have proactively engaged with the government to explain our practices in and contributions to this dynamic and highly competitive sector. We will continue to collaborate with the government and industry stakeholders throughout this process,” Google spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Fortnite-maker Epic Games said that it’s a big win for gamers and developers.
“A big win for mobile gamers and developers: the Japanese government and the Diet have passed a new law to open up mobile app stores! The Epic Games Store & Fortnite will be coming to iOS in Japan in late 2025,” it said in a post.