Apple and Google are the subject of yet another new investigation from competition regulators.
This time it’s the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, which has announced that it is looking into whether the tech giants are exerting too much control.
The CMA has the power to “impose conduct requirements or propose pro-competition interventions” if Apple and Google are found to have ‘strategic market status’ – or, in short, too much power and control over the iOS and Android ecosystems.
The government body’s investigation will look at three key areas:
- Competition between and within Apple’s and Google’s mobile ecosystems and what barriers may be preventing competitors from offering rival products and services
- Possible leveraging of their market power into other activities, including whether they are using their position in operating systems, app distribution or browsers to favour their own apps and services
- Potential exploitative conduct, including whether they require app developers to sign up to unfair terms and conditions plus whether it is difficult to make active choices about which apps customers use
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said of the new investigation: “More competitive mobile ecosystems could foster new innovations and new opportunities across a range of services that millions of people use, be they app stores, browsers or operating systems.”
“Better competition could also boost growth here in the UK, with businesses able to offer new and innovative types of products and services on Apple’s and Google’s platforms.”
This latest probe follows on from a previous CMA investigation into whether Apple and Google are running an “effective duopoly”, announced in November 2022. The investigation concluded that “Apple’s rules restrict other competitors from being able to deliver new, innovative features that could benefit consumers”.
This conclusion led to the formulation of the new investigation, announced today.
