Google's ban on use of external links in breach of South Korea's app market law, country's regulator says

( April 5, 2022, 08:24 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: Google’s recent policy update, which effectively bans developers from including links in their apps for payment on external sites, could be in breach of South Korea’s app market law, the country’s regulator said today. The Korea Communications Commission said in a statement that Google’s new in-app payment policy was assessed at the request of the Korea Internet Corporations Association and could be in violation of the amended Telecommunications Business Act, which forbids app store operators from mandating the use of a certain payment system as an abuse their superior bargaining position. However, the regulator stressed that this is not a definitive judgment and that it will launch inquiries if app stores do curb the use of other payment methods including external links, notwithstanding today’s announcement.The regulator's statement, in Korean, is attached....