Complying with Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act
Today, the Japan Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) comes into force for companies who have been designated. This blog shares how Google is intending to comply and some changes you may see in our products.
The main changes for consumers and businesses using Google’s products in Japan
- Choice screens: Switching your search engine or browser is something you can already do easily on Android and Chrome. Under the MSCA, we will show choice screens that prompt you to select a search engine and browser. You will begin to see these on Android phones in Japan, as well as in the Chrome app on iOS phones. Learn more here.
- Alternative in-app billing: Developers in Japan with non-gaming apps have been able to enroll in our User Choice Billing program since 2022. This program allows developers to offer an alternative billing system alongside Google Play’s billing system for in-app purchases of digital content. To comply with the MSCA, we are expanding the scope of this program to all apps offering in-app purchases of digital content to Japanese users. Learn more here.
- Buying digital content outside Google Play: Android is an open and vibrant platform that has brought new opportunities for Japanese developers. A key challenge for us is to sustain those opportunities and ensure continued growth without introducing security risks and concerns. Building on that context, we're launching a new program which enhances developer choice and flexibility on Google Play. This program enables developers to offer a side by side choice of making a purchase with Google Play Billing or completing the purchase on the developer’s website. The program has a competitive fee offering and is subject to important user safety and security requirements. To take part, developers can begin the onboarding process now and will shortly have access to APIs to fully implement the program. Learn more here.
Delivering innovation and expanding user choice
Our products have always been developed with helpfulness and choice in mind. This means that Google already complies with many of the MSCA’s requirements. For example:
- You can already install third-party app stores on Android devices and easily swap defaults on Android and Chrome.
- Android's open model also allows you to mix-and-match devices and apps from different brands and developers to work seamlessly with your smartphone.
- We ensure that Search prioritizes providing you with helpful, relevant and reliable information.
- We allow app developers to use alternative browser engines and authentication services in their apps.
- For over a decade, Google Takeout has given you the ability to download or transfer a copy of your data from more than 80 Google products. We'll continue to invest in tools that put users in control.
Protecting safe and secure innovation in Japan
For the past 18 months, we’ve worked constructively with Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) and we appreciate the collaboration with the JFTC on our compliance solutions. We are grateful for the JFTC's commitment to this process and close partnership on the changes we are making.
During our discussions, we shared how some regulations in other countries have led to difficult trade-offs that negatively impacted users and businesses. The MSCA includes important safeguards that can help reduce these concerns. It allows for “justifiable grounds” to protect crucial interests like cybersecurity, privacy and user safety. This helps minimise the risk that useful features aren't unintentionally lost as a result of compliance with new regulation.
Our ability to maintain the safety and security of our ecosystem is paramount; a recent survey of Japanese developers showed that 79% are concerned about the security risks associated with distributing in-app digital content through channels outside of major app stores. These findings underscore the importance of getting the implementation details right and the need for constructive regulatory engagement and careful enforcement to avoid any unintended consequences as these new rules are rolled out.
We will continue to work with the Japan Fair Trade Commission and the industry to ensure we continue to offer products and services that are helpful and safe for everyone in Japan.
