Yahoo! JAPAN Services Unavailable in UK and EEA from April 6

Digital Access Shift Impacts Millions of Users

Millions of users in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom are experiencing a significant change in their digital access as Yahoo! JAPAN ceased its primary services in these regions on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The company cited difficulties in maintaining service continuity as the reason for the withdrawal.

Service Adjustments Announced

Yahoo! JAPAN has stated that providing a suitable service environment in the affected areas proved challenging, leading to the decision. However, specific Yahoo! JAPAN Mail functions will continue to operate, albeit with some limitations. Details on these restricted features are available via a provided link, though the information is exclusively in Japanese.

Global Access Remains

For users located within Japan, all Yahoo! JAPAN services are expected to remain fully accessible. This geographical restriction highlights the company’s strategic focus and operational challenges in complying with various international regulations and market conditions.

User Impact and Support

The company has issued an apology for any inconvenience caused by this service disruption. Users seeking further information about the member states included in the EEA can consult a link provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

This move comes as many global tech companies re-evaluate their market presence and service offerings in light of evolving digital regulations, such as the Digital Markets Act in the EU, which aims to create a fairer and more contestable digital market. For instance, in 2023, the EU fined Google billions for antitrust violations related to its search engine practices, underscoring the increased regulatory scrutiny on major tech platforms (BBC News).