Alphabet Inc. Class C(GOOG.US) Alphabet Inc. Class A(GOOGL.US) finds itself under scrutiny once again as Japan's competition authority initiates a probe into its web search services.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has launched an investigation to ascertain if Google's arrangements with Android smartphone manufacturers infringe on Japan's Antimonopoly Act.

These arrangements may involve Google returning a portion of its revenues to these manufacturers under the stipulation that they refrain from installing competitor search engines, according to a report from Reuters.

The regulatory body is also examining Google's stipulation that requires Android phone producers to preload "Google Search" and "Google Chrome" browser applications concurrently with the "Google Play" app.

A spokesperson from the JFTC expressed concerns during a media briefing, stating, "There is suspicion that through these steps it is excluding competitors' business activity and restricting its business partners' business activity in the search services market." 

This move by Japan aligns with similar actions undertaken by antitrust authorities across the world, including the European Union and the United States.

Price Action: GOOG shares are trading lower by 0.23% at $136.43 in premarket on the last check Monday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.