Beyond just requiring Apple to allow third-party app stores, Japan’s new anti-trust regulations will also force Apple to allow third-party browsers on iPhone starting in December.
Japan’s Federal Trade Commission | Image Credit: Horocassi234 on Wikimedia Commons
Japan’s Federal Trade Commission | Image Credit: Horocassi234 on Wikimedia Commons
Japan’s Fair Trade Commission is gearing up to enforce its new Smartphone Act rules that directly impact Apple’s software policies. Central to the changes is Apple’s WebKit-only rule for all iOS browsers.
The new guidelines, translated by Open Web Advocacy, give Apple until December 2025 to remove restrictions that block or hinder third-party browser engines on iOS. That deadline means iPhone users in Japan could see actual alternatives to Safari as early as 2026.