Apple's app policy is subject to strict scrutiny in Japan, and Cook asked the Japanese prime minister to consider users more.

December 31, Japanese media quoted sources as saying on Friday that Apple CEO Tim Cook asked Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to give full consideration to how to protect users' privacy and security when regulating the distribution of smartphone apps.

The Apple App Store charges 30 per cent of intra-app payments and does not allow devices such as the iPhone to install apps through third-party app stores. These practices are subject to increasing scrutiny.

According to the report, Cook asked Fumio Kishida to ensure that the regulations set up around application distribution do not harm the privacy and security of users.

Apple and the Japanese prime minister's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Tu Yuan Unsplash visited Japan earlier this month. Apple said at the time that it had invested more than $100 billion in supply networks in Japan over the past five years.

Revenue from Apple's services business, including the App Store, has been growing rapidly over the past few years and is now about $19 billion a quarter.