Google Sanctioned by Japanese Regulators for Limiting Competitor Ads

TOKYO, Apr 22 (News On Japan) - In a historic move, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has issued its first administrative sanction against American tech giant Google.

Nakajima Nako, the Senior Examination Officer at the JFTC, stated, "There is a suspicion that Google has violated the provisions of the Antimonopoly Act." This centers around the "search-linked advertising" service, which displays ads related to searched terms on websites. Since 2010, "LINE Yahoo" has been receiving technology from Google to support this service.

According to the JFTC, Google had restricted the delivery of some of LINE Yahoo's search-linked ads since 2014. Despite Google submitting a prevention plan to avoid further issues, the JFTC implemented an administrative measure today to enforce this plan.

This is the first time Google has been subject to administrative action by the JFTC. Moving forward, the advertising business will undergo regular audits involving external experts to ensure compliance.

On the other hand, Google maintains that "it has not been found to have violated antitrust laws," emphasizing that its practices have not been legally declared illegal.

Source: TBS

City of Los Angeles names May 17 Shohei Ohtani Day

or as long as Shohei Ohtani plays for the Dodgers -- which will be at least for the next decade -- May 17 will be known as “Shohei Ohtani Day” in Los Angeles County. (MLB)

Two Die After Consuming Toxic Plant

Two residents of Sapporo who died earlier this month likely succumbed to food poisoning caused by mistakenly consuming toxic autumn crocus, according to the Sapporo City Health Department. The department confirmed on May 17 that the deaths were indeed due to poisoning from this plant.

Japan Approves Joint Custody After Divorce

A revised Civil Code introducing 'joint custody' for children after divorce has been passed by the Diet. This marks the first time in 77 years that Japan has reviewed the approach to post-divorce custody.

'Challenge to Democracy': Tokyo Police Arrest Three Tsubasa Party Leaders

Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested three leaders of the political group 'Tsubasa Party' on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act by disrupting the speeches of other candidates during a House of Representatives by-election in Tokyo's 15th district. Investigators view this as a "challenge to democracy" and plan to pursue a thorough investigation.

Experience Future Living in 2050: Space Elevators and Smart Living Rooms

An event allowing visitors to experience life in 2050 has launched in Tokyo, including an elevator which enables transportation to space via a cable extending from a satellite to Earth.

MORE Business NEWS

High-End Apartments Sprout in Osaka's Umeda

The Umeda area in Osaka is seeing a surge in high-rise apartment construction, including a 49-story residential skyscraper south of JR Osaka Station.

'Impersonation Scam' - Akira Ikegami Warns About Fake Voice Messages

Japan's National Police Agency revealed on May 16 that the amount of money lost to impersonation investment scams on social media totaled 21.9 billion yen in just three months from January to March this year.

The Grand Shield Collects 8 Billion Yen Through Illegal Bonds

The president and seven employees of The Grand Shield, previously featured in Japanese media due to financial troubles with dental braces, have been arrested for selling high-yield bonds without registration, promising annual returns of 20%. It is believed that two women among the suspects collected 4.6 billion yen alone.

Japan's GDP Shrinks by 2.0% in Q1 Due to Daihatsu Scandal

Japan's real GDP growth rate for the first quarter of this year, from January to March, was announced by the Cabinet Office to be an annualized minus 2.0%.

Yusaku Maezawa Sues Meta for 1 Yen Over Impersonation Investment Scams

Businessman Yusaku Maezawa has filed a lawsuit against Meta, the company operating Facebook, seeking 1 yen in damages in response to a series of investment scams involving impersonation of famous personalities on social media.

TEPCO Constructs Substation to Meet Rising Data Center Power Demand

As the Japanese government begins discussions on the basic policies for its energy strategy, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has constructed a new substation and other infrastructure in Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, to address the increasing power consumption of data centers.

Honda to Spend $65 Billion on EVs, Self-Driving Tech

Honda Motor says it will invest 10 trillion yen or roughly 65 billion dollars in electric vehicles and software for self-driving technology through fiscal 2030. (NHK)

Over Half of Japanese Companies in China Report Declining Sales

The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has released the results of a survey targeting Japanese companies operating in China, revealing that over half of them report worsening sales trends.

< 2 3 4 5 >