THE INFOTEKS

Japan Forces Apple to Open iOS: What the New Antitrust Law Means for Users & Developers In a landmark move, Japan has passed legislation that compels tech giants like Apple and Google to loosen their grip on app distribution, payments, and platform control. Under this new law, Apple must permit third-party app stores and alternative payment systems on iPhones in Japan. Users will get more freedom. Developers may see lower fees and fairer competition. But there are also important trade-offs around security, user experience, and how quickly changes will roll out. Let’s explore what this law is, how it compares with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), what examples show the benefits and downsides, and what users and developers can expect. What’s the New Japanese Law? The law is formally called the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software . It was passed by Japan’s parliament (upper house) in mid-2024. ( MacRumors ) Here are the key requirements: App...