Japan now requires search engine choice on mobile platforms

[bill]

Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act comes into effect on December 18, 2025, requiring major smartphone platforms to give users more freedom over default apps, search engines, and app stores. Apple’s iOS 26.2 already reflects this with a new search-engine choice screen in Japan.

The law applies broadly to “specified smartphone software,” so Android and other mobile platforms will also need to comply. It’s Japan’s version of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, aimed at preventing big tech from locking users into their own ecosystems.

Official English summary (Japan Fair Trade Commission): [jftc.go.jp ]
MacRumors article:[macrumors.com ]

[tangor]

All this sounds like MOBILE... does it apply to desktop? (Cheeky inquiry. Yes, of course, it does!)

Merely a commentary that "phone" is the immediate vehicle. To this day I STILL do not have one of those devices.

[bill]

Right now it's focused on mobile devices. There are no directives for operating systems like Windows to provide such a selection to users.

[clairemiso299]

This puts Japan in the same direction as the EU and it will push both Apple and Google to open up more of their defaults. The biggest change will be people seeing a setup screen that asks them to pick a search engine before using the device. Smaller search providers might get a bit more visibility because of that. It is also likely to influence similar rules in other Asian markets if the rollout goes smoothly.