EU, Japan Take Actions Against Google for Antitrust Violations

Recent regulatory actions in both the United States and abroad have intensified scrutiny of Google and Apple. In the U.S., a federal judge ruled that Google illegally maintained monopoly power in key areas of its adtech business, raising the possibility of a forced breakup and significant changes for the digital advertising ecosystem. Meanwhile, in Japan, the Fair Trade Commission found Google in violation of competition laws for agreements designed to promote its search engine and Chrome browser, marking a shift towards more assertive enforcement in Asia. In Europe, the Commission continues to pressure U.S. tech giants, imposing interoperability requirements on Apple and finding Google non-compliant with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), actions seen by some as overreaching and potentially damaging to transatlantic relations and consumer interests. Collectively, these developments reflect a growing global momentum to regulate dominant tech platforms and reshape digital market competition.