British watchdog shuts down probes into Apple and Google app stores
Britain’s competition regulator has temporarily halted its probes into Apple and Alphabet subsidiary Google’s app stores, pending the implementation of new digital market regulations. Both companies have faced global scrutiny for their alleged anti-competitive practices, including accusations of excessive fees and restrictions on app developers. The UK’s decision to pause its investigations reflects the broader international landscape of regulatory scrutiny facing these dominant platforms.
In 2022, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a market study of mobile ecosystems in Britain, which found Apple and Google held an effective monopoly over the distribution of apps in Britain.
The body subsequently launched parallel investigations into both companies for alleged anticompetitive behaviour.
But in a statement published on Wednesday, the CMA said it had dropped both probes, pending the roll-out of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA), which is expected to come into force later this year.
“Once the new pro-competition digital markets regime comes into force, we’ll be able to consider applying those new powers to concerns we have already identified through our existing work,” said Will Hayter, Executive Director for Digital Markets at the CMA.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple will be just fine. The company will likely (be forced to) implement similar changes to the App Store as they already have in the EU. None of these changes hurt Apple, they may even strengthen the company.
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