is that why japan is concerned about GAFA hoarding data ?
Japanese regulator to investigate GAFA
Japan's trade watchdog will investigate whether four leading US tech companies have been doing business properly.
Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon will be probed. Collectively, the companies are known by the acronym GAFA.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission suspects the four firms have gained an unfair advantage by hoarding massive amounts of data.
The watchdog is weighing the option of applying Japan's anti-monopoly law regulations to GAFA. The tech companies may be punished, if the trade watchdog discovers that the companies have been handling personal information and other data inappropriately.
For starters, the commission will begin looking into the operations of the four giants on Wednesday.
The regulator will try to determine whether the companies have been treating app developers and other firms in improper ways, by unilaterally cancelling contracts, for example.
The commission will also survey consumers and interview officials of the four companies.
The results of the investigation will be compiled in a few months. The regulator will then use the results to study concrete ways to regulate GAFA.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190120_03/amp.html