Japan orders Apple and Google to open payment systems and level app store competition

• 105 public comments shaped the final enforcement guidelines.
• The new rules ban self-preferencing and unfair treatment of rival apps in app stores.
• Apple and Google must build firewalls to stop teams from using sensitive developer data.
• Annual compliance reports will be mandatory for both tech giants.

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission will require major platforms such as Apple and Google to permit external payment systems and offer developers more choice.

According to the 119-page Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), the new guidelines will take effect from December 18th 2025, aligning closely with the EU's recent requirements. 

The guidelines prohibit Apple and Google from favouring their own apps over third-party rivals by using OS-collected user data or by unfairly delaying, rejecting, or limiting competitors’ app visibility in their stores.

Apple and Google must now establish firewalls to block their teams from using sensitive developer data for competing products and submit annual compliance reports.

Full enforcement 

Since 2020, Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has probed Apple and Google’s mobile market dominance, which appears to have culminated this week with the new guidelines. 

The JFTC sought public feedback on draft regulations and guidelines for enforcing the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specific Smartphone Software, receiving 105 comments between May 15th and June 13th, 2025.

The regulator said it will continue to prepare for the full enforcement of the Act, including efforts to promote public awareness.