As per the latest information, Nikkei Asia has claimed Japan is working on a new regulation that would require Apple to support third-party app stores on iOS. It would extend to offering in-app purchases and billing solutions in addition to the App Store.
Apple has always offered the App Store as the sole official destination for downloading apps on iOS devices. It further requires subscriptions and in-app purchase billings to be done through the App Store as well. The company takes a 30% commission on each transaction. This approach has led to Apple becoming a dominant player in the app market. It has also been accused of misusing its power on various occasions in th past.
Japan could send the new legislation to the parliament sometime in 2024. It is said to focus primarily on four areas: app stores and payments, search, browsers, and operating systems. The change would allow the Japan Fair Trade Commission to impose fines on violations.
This is something it has always opposed citing security and privacy reasons. EU has set a deadline of March 2024 for the Cupertino-based tech giant to offer some kind of sideloading to iOS users in the region but the company is yet to share details.
