Key Points
- The UK’s competition regulator (CMA) is targeting Apple and Google over their mobile ecosystems.
- It plans to give them a special “strategic market status,” which allows the CMA to force changes.
- The primary complaints concern high app store fees, unfair app review processes, and anti-competitive behavior.
- The CMA is demanding fairer reviews and wants to allow developers to link to alternative payment options.
Britain’s competition regulator is officially targeting Apple and Google, advocating for significant changes to how they operate their app stores and mobile operating systems. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed giving the two tech giants a special “strategic market status,” a designation that would give it the power to force them to change their business practices.
The CMA’s investigation found several issues. The regulator is targeting the up to 30% commission that companies charge on in-app purchases and the rules that prevent developers from informing customers about cheaper payment options. The CMA also raised concerns about inconsistent app review processes and the possibility that Apple and Google favor their apps in search rankings.
As a result, the CMA is demanding several changes. It wants both companies to have a fairer and more transparent app review process. It is also looking to make it easier for developers to steer users to alternative payment methods, thereby bypassing in-app fees. In the future, the regulator is even considering forcing Apple to allow alternative app stores on iPhones, a practice known as “sideloading.”
Both tech giants pushed back against the proposals. Apple argued that the changes would undermine user privacy and security. Google called the move “disappointing and unwarranted,” highlighting that its Android platform is open and offers choice. This fight is part of a broader crackdown on Big Tech, with both companies facing similar pressure from European Union regulators.
