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UK regulator investigating Apple’s mobile browser dominance

The UK competition regulator has raised concerns about Apple’s dominance of the mobile browser market.

Competition and Markets Authority Said on November 22 that Apple restricts competition by limiting the use of rival browsers on its iOS devices and effectively forcing developers to use its WebKit browser engine. This could stifle innovation among competitors, reducing choices for consumers.

Currently, any browser available for iOS must use WebKit. The CMA report states that WebKit limits the ways browser providers can differentiate from each other. It has also been claimed that third-party browsers built with WebKit do not have the same accessibility and functionality as Safari.

Browser competition in the UK is ‘stifling innovation’, according to CMA official

Third-party browser developers told the CMA that they are unable to offer certain privacy and security features or faster webpage loading due to these restrictions. They are also prevented from creating so-called “progressive web apps”, low-cost apps that are built using web platform technologies and do not require downloading through an app store.

Apple also limits the amount of traffic and customization options available for in-app browsing in third-party apps.

Margot Daly, chair of the CMA’s independent scrutiny group, said in a Press release: “The market works best when rival businesses are able to develop and bring innovative alternatives to consumers. Through our investigation, we have tentatively found that competition between different mobile browsers is not working well and is stifling innovation in the UK.

Other issues raised by the watchdog include a questionable agreement between Google and Apple that means they both earn significant revenue when their rival’s browser, Chrome or Safari, is used on iOS. Such revenue sharing reduces their incentive to compete with each other.

Apple and Google can also manipulate their respective browser selection screens, which allow users to choose their default Internet browser for opening links, to make Safari and Chrome the most obvious or easiest choices.

WATCH: Apple’s geo-blocking practices may violate EU rules

When the investigation was opened in 2021 CMA Ruling that Apple and Google “have an effective monopoly over the mobile ecosystem, including operating systems, app stores, and web browsers for mobile devices.”

The watchdog is exploring possible mitigations, including forcing Apple to loosen its browser engine restrictions. The report tentatively recommends that the CMA prioritize investigating Apple and Google’s monopoly under new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer ActWhich will come into effect early next year.

Concerned parties can now comment on the investigative groups’ provisional findings, and a final decision will be published in February or March 2025.

Google and Apple say they support competition in the mobile browser market but will comply with the investigation

A Google spokesperson told TechRepublic: “Android’s openness has helped expand choices, lower prices, and democratize access to smartphones and apps. We are committed to open platforms that empower consumers and help developers build successful businesses and we will continue to engage constructively with the CMA on these matters in the coming months.

Meanwhile, according to a spokesperson, Apple “disagrees with the report’s findings regarding Safari, WebKit, and in-app browsing on iOS”. He told TechRepublic that “Apple believes in thriving and dynamic markets where innovation can flourish. We face competition in every sector and jurisdiction where we operate and our focus is always on the trust of our users.

“We are concerned that the interventions discussed in the report for future consideration under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act will undermine user privacy and security and hinder our ability to build the kind of technology that sets Apple apart.” Does it. “We will continue to engage constructively with the CMA as their work on this matter progresses.”

Apple also claims that allowing non-Safari browsers on iOS and enabling users to choose their default browser ensures continued competition.

It had previously defended its policies regarding WebKit, arguing that “‘mandating the use of third-party rendering engines on iOS would break the unified privacy, security, and performance model of iOS devices”. 2022 report From CMA to your mobile ecosystem.

The report’s authors also said that, by requiring apps to use WebKit, Apple is “able to quickly and effectively address security and privacy issues across all browsers on iPhone for all iPhone users.”

In the EU, browser engines other than WebKit can be used to create browsers for iOS and iPadOS due to the Digital Markets Act. Cupertino giant created policy change To comply with this in January 2024 requirements It “enables browsers running on iOS to use a browser engine other than WebKit” and “provides equivalent access to key features and functionality that Safari has.”

Apple also introduced a pop-up browser options screen for EU consumers that opens Safari for the first time after updating an iPhone to iOS 17.4 when the DMA came into effect in March. Safari’s options weren’t made clear enough in the options list initially, so Apple had to make some changes in August.

Global regulators are holding Big Tech responsible for stifling competition

The CMA’s move is part of a broader scrutiny of the mobile ecosystem as regulators around the world step up scrutiny of the market power of tech giants.

Apple has also been in the crosshairs of European regulators and the UK, with the company in June accused of violating the DMA for a variety of reasons, including not making it easy enough for developers to give their customers purchasing options outside of apps , who were financially bad. The commission also launched a benefit for Apple non-compliance investigation Does Apple discourage developers from hosting their iOS apps on third-party platforms?

In August, Apple announced it would allow EU users to remove pre-installed apps on iOS 18 to comply with the DMA. It also clarified the browser options screen and expanded many of the default apps that third-party versions can replace.

(TagstoTranslate)Antitrust(T)Apple(T)CMA(T)Competition(T)Competition and Markets Authority(T)Innovation(T)iOS(T)Legislation(T)Safari(T)UK
#regulator #investigating #Apples #mobile #browser #dominance

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