Japan Mandates December 2025 Deadline for Apple’s iPhone Browser Engine Monopoly

Japanese regulators are poised to fundamentally reshape the iPhone ecosystem, imposing a strict December 2025 deadline for Apple to eliminate its exclusive control over browser engines on iOS devices. These newly published guidelines, issued under Japan’s Smartphone Act, directly challenge Apple’s long-standing policy, which has prevented popular third-party engines like Google’s Blink (used by Chrome) from operating on iPhones.

This move is a direct response to Apple’s past practices, including what some have termed ‘malicious compliance’ in other regions like the EU, where the company has found ways to circumvent regulatory intent. The Japanese guidelines are notably stringent, explicitly prohibiting Apple from imposing unreasonable technical limitations, excessive financial burdens on developers, or actively discouraging smartphone users from adopting applications that incorporate alternative browser engines. This landmark decision is expected to usher in a new era of competition and innovation within Japan’s mobile app market, offering users and developers unprecedented choice and flexibility on the iPhone platform.

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