UK CMA Secures App Store Committments
UK Competition and Markets Authority:
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking views on a package of commitments from Apple and Google intended to deliver immediate improvements in certainty, transparency and fairness for thousands of UK businesses dependent on app stores to serve their customers. Additional commitments from Apple will deliver a step change in how developers can request interoperable access to the iOS and iPadOS mobile operating systems, giving greater certainty over how they can deliver innovative new products. The commitments will be underpinned by robust monitoring and reporting by the CMA to ensure compliance.
[…]
- App review: Making sure Apple and Google review apps to be distributed on their app stores in a fair, objective and transparent way and do not discriminate against apps which compete with their own, or give preferential treatment to their own apps.
- App ranking: Making sure Apple and Google rank apps in their app stores in a fair, objective and transparent way and do not discriminate against apps which compete with their own, or give preferential treatment to their own apps.
- Data collection: Making sure Apple and Google safeguard the app data they gather from developers in the course of app review and do not use this data unfairly.
- Interoperability: Enabling developers to more easily request interoperable access to features and functionality within Apple’s mobile operating systems[…]
Via Carly Page:
The watchdog says it will track metrics, including review timelines, appeal rates, and the handling of interoperability requests to ensure the commitments translate into real changes.
Did anything ever come from the EU interoperability requests? Or are the changes we’ve seen just a result of the DMA itself?
The CMA describes its announcement as being proposed commitments. It says that views are welcome by 17:00 GMT on March 3, 2026, although it rather buries how you submit those views in a blog and accompanying set of supporting documentation.
Depending on the views submitted, the CMA says that its proposed commitments will take effect from April 1, 2026.
Previously, the UK’s CMA has claimed that Apple stifles competition between browsers on the iPhone. However, it has so far chosen not to create regulations to force any changes.
The CMA says it will closely monitor implementation and won’t hesitate to impose formal requirements if the companies fail to follow through. Further measures are expected in the coming months that could include potential changes to how Apple’s digital Wallet app operates.
Apple told Bloomberg that the changes provide great opportunities for developers.
“The commitments announced today allow Apple to continue advancing important privacy and security innovations for users and great opportunities for developers,” an Apple spokesperson said.
Previously:
- UK: Commission Lawsuit Ruling and Strategic Market Status
- Meta’s iOS Interoperability Requests
- DMA Compliance: Interoperability Requests
