STORY
The Competition and Markets Authority has launched a consultation on new requirements for Apple and Google under the UK’s digital markets competition regime. The proposed rules are intended to make mobile platforms more open and reduce restrictions on app developers.
The CMA said the measures would allow developers to steer customers towards off-platform payment options, potentially helping them avoid mandatory fees imposed through app stores. Apple currently bans such steering in the UK, while Google restricts it.
The consultation is politically significant because it tests the Government’s post-Brexit competition framework for large technology firms. Ministers and regulators have argued that stronger digital market rules could reduce prices, support innovation and improve choice for consumers and businesses.