Japan to open up Apple- and Google-dominated phone apps to competition
100 sats \ 9 comments \ @Bitman 19 Jun 2023 tech
After Apple doing the dirty to Damus, Zeus and Fold last week - we might have an unlikely saviour to the rescue, the Japanese government...

Japan to open up Apple- and Google-dominated phone apps to competition
TOKYO, June 17 (Reuters) - Japan plans to stoke competition in smartphone app payments, dominated by Apple (AAPL.O) and Google, by banning major app store operators from forcing software developers to use the operators' own payment systems, a government panel said.
The final report by the panel, released on Friday, also said major suppliers of smartphone operating systems (OS) should be obliged to offer users alternative ways to obtain apps in a secure manner other than their own app stores.
Apple's iOS and Android from Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) Google roughly split Japan's mobile OS market.
Apple allows users to download iPhone apps only through its own app store, while both Apple and Google require software developers to use proprietary payment systems that charge commissions of up to 30%.
The report said that necessary legislative measures will be looked into next, while the Asahi Shimbun daily reported on Saturday the government aims to submit a related bill to parliament as early as next year.
Members of the government panel include Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto.
(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka)
https://www.reuters.com/technology/japan-open-up-apple-google-dominated-phone-apps-competition-2023-06-17/
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50 sats \ 8 replies \ @DarthCoin 19 Jun 2023
Gov intervention is NOT a solution. Is even worse. The solution is to let user to choosd whatever he wants to use. Forcing or banning these companies to do something is bad. Govs should not intervene in any decision of private companies.
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0 sats \ 2 replies \ @mudbloodvonfrei 19 Jun 2023
This is something I struggle with often. My first instinct is that government regulation is evil till proven otherwise. However, I'm not a hardcore libertarian either. Sometimes government intervention is important. Sometimes, the government already has regulations in place, but their mis-/non-/application creates distortions (for example, non/poor enforcement of section 230 of the Communications Decency Act prevents internet platforms from being civilly liable for their content while still giving them many of the benefits of being publishers, allowing them to police speech they don't like, even though I tend to agree that it's not the government's job to prevent them). Not sure what the correct answer here is.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @DarthCoin 19 Jun 2023
have fun staying in the gov cage then
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bitman OP 19 Jun 2023
I know what you're saying.
For what I know Japan has been very 'light touch' on defi - I think that's what attracted MntGox and others in the early days.
Personally, I think light touch is always the best way with everything - there's very little to fight against and you keep a good relationship throughout.
It works for me anyway being a loving parent.
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0 sats \ 2 replies \ @Bitman OP 19 Jun 2023
So, in the eyes of Darth, Bukele was wrong to make McDonalds accept Bitcoin?
He's not a president he's a very naughty boy
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @DarthCoin 19 Jun 2023
McDonalds it doesn't accept bitcoin. They accept chivo dollars. Bukele didn't "make" McDonalds to accept bitcoin. Bukele just open a door to everybody. Who is smart and go through that door will have a bright future. Who is dumb... HFSP. Bitcoin doesn't need Bukele but Bukele need Bitcoin.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bitman OP 19 Jun 2023
Go heavy with the memes bro.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bitman OP 19 Jun 2023
by banning major app store operators from forcing software developers to use the operators' own payment systems, a government panel said.
This part?
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bitman OP 19 Jun 2023
Isn't it a double negative?
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