The United Kingdom’s competition watchdog has officially initiated a consultation process that could compel tech giants Apple and Google to relax their stringent control over how consumers in the UK pay for mobile applications. This initiative is aimed at fostering greater innovation within the country’s technology sector and ultimately driving down costs for users.
On Tuesday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that it is consulting on new conduct requirements for the two companies under the framework of the UK’s digital markets competition regime. The proposed measures specifically target restrictions that currently prevent app developers from directing their customers toward alternative, more affordable payment options outside of the platforms owned by Apple and Google.
The regulator’s latest move follows a formal designation made last October, in which the CMA identified that Apple and Google maintain an “effective duopoly” over the mobile landscape. This decision was largely based on data indicating that 90% to 100% of all mobile devices currently in use across the UK operate on either the Apple or Google platforms.
