UK competition watchdog eyes special abuse control regime for Apple, Google
On Wednesday, the CMA announced that it's proposing to designate the two tech giants – saying that it had found 90-100% of mobile devices in the UK run on either Apple- or Google-owned mobile platforms, making the pair "an effective duopoly".
A "strategic market status" designation on Apple and Google would unlock bespoke powers for the CMA's Digital Markets Unit to tackle platform-specific competition risks, with the wider goal of boosting the UK's app economy.
The CMA has a number of concerns about Apple and Google's platforms, including restrictions placed on app developers' ability to steer consumers to offers outside the tech giants' own app stores – an issue which led the EU's executive to slap the iPhone-maker with a €500 million fine under the bloc's DMA earlier this year.
It also said it wants to investigate restrictions the two companies' platforms put on developers' access to "features and functionality".
Under the EU's DMA, Apple and Google's app stores are both designated as "core platform services" – meaning the app marketplaces are subject to an up-front list of obligations and prohibitions, such the DMA's ban on gatekeepers' self-preferencing.
Apple has already been fined in relation to anti-steering under the DMA. Since March it has also been in talks with the Commission about implementing interoperability features to comply with the pan-EU law.
Google, meanwhile, was also found by the Commission to have violated the DMA's rules on steering in relation to its Play Store – although it has yet to receive a fine.
"Time is of the essence: as competition agencies and courts globally take action in these markets, it's essential the UK doesn't fall behind," said Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, in a statement.
Also today, the UK watchdog published separate roadmaps for actions the two mobile giants could take to improve competition – and avoid the risk of future enforcement – outlining measures focused on areas including interoperability, AI services, and consumer choice.
A final decision by the CMA on whether to designate Apple and Google with "strategic market status" will be taken by 22 October.
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