UK Antitrust Authority Provisionally Finds Apple’s Policies Hold Back Innovation in Mobile Browsers
The UK’s antitrust authority has provisionally found that Apple’s policies are holding back innovation in the browsers used to access the web on mobile phones. This announcement comes at a time when the US Department of Justice (DoJ) is also investigating Google for its dominance in online search, with a judge ruling in August that the internet giant was tantamount to an illegal monopoly.
A Long Time Coming
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a market study back in 2021, looking into Apple and Google’s dominance in mobile, including practices and policies around their respective app stores and browsers. The regulator confirmed it was launching a formal antitrust probe into this Android-iOS "mobile duopoly" the following year, focused on browsers and cloud gaming.
Changes Made by Apple
The CMA has now said that it won’t be moving forward with the cloud gaming aspect of its probe due to changes Apple has already made, which "look to have positive implications for competition in this market." However, many of the other complaints remain. The CMA said Apple forces competing mobile browsers in the UK to use Apple’s browser engine, WebKit, which limits what these browsers are able to do and curbs their ability to differentiate.
Limitations on Competing Browsers
Browsers that use WebKit haven’t been given the same level of access and functionality as Apple’s own Safari, which "has a negative impact on competition and innovation." This also includes limitations on how third-party apps can leverage so-called "in-app browsing," meaning access to the open web from within native iOS apps.
"We have provisionally found that Apple’s restrictions limit the traffic available to challenger browsers in this type of browsing and also limit the extent to which apps can customise their users’ browsing experience, as companies with millions of users like Meta would like to do," the report notes. "We have provisionally found that this limits competition and choice in terms of the options available to app developers to offer in-app browsing."
Reactions from Apple and Google
An Apple spokesperson said the company disagrees with the findings, and any changes could ultimately "undermine user privacy and security." The spokesperson said:
"Apple believes in thriving and dynamic markets where innovation can flourish. We face competition in every segment and jurisdiction where we operate, and our focus is always the trust of our users. We disagree with the findings in the report regarding Apple’s browser engine and Safari, as they are designed to provide a seamless and secure experience for our customers."
Google has not commented on the CMA’s provisional findings.
Impact on Competition
The CMA’s investigation highlights the importance of competition in the digital market. If left unchecked, dominant players like Apple and Google could stifle innovation and limit consumer choice. The UK antitrust authority’s provisional findings are a step towards ensuring that these companies do not abuse their positions of power.
What’s Next?
The CMA will now gather further evidence and consider responses from interested parties before making a final decision on its investigation. This process is likely to take several months, and it remains to be seen how the outcome will affect Apple’s policies on mobile browsers and in-app browsing.
Related News
- US Department of Justice investigates Google for online search dominance
- UK antitrust authority launches probe into Apple and Google’s dominance in mobile market
The digital market is constantly evolving, and regulatory bodies like the CMA play a crucial role in ensuring that companies do not abuse their positions of power. As the investigation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Apple responds to the CMA’s provisional findings and whether any changes are made to its policies on mobile browsers and in-app browsing.
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