"Last year the UK declared that Apple and Google were a duopoly with " strategic market status" in the mobile platforms market, making them subject to special regulations. However, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will not regulate Google and Apple's app stores like the EU has done. Rather, government plans to enforce its own digital markets rules in a "pragmatic" way by accepting "commitments" from Apple and Google in areas like app rankings, the CMA announced."
"Google and Apple agreed to work with the CMA to address concerns on the following matters: app review, app ranking, use of data and interoperability process. Effectively, regulators require the tech giants to treat developers fairly, particularly when they compete against Google and Apple's own apps. However, the UK's rules are more like suggestions and "not legally binding in any case," former CMA director Tom Smith told the Financial Times."
"That could change if the companies fail to comply with its measures, though. The CMA plans to check metrics like the number of apps approved or rejected, app review times and developer complaints received. New requirements could then be brought forward if deemed necessary. "For example, if we find Apple is routinely declining interoperability requests without good reason... we could bring forward specific interoperability requirements. Non-compliance would also mean we would be unlikely to consider commitments as a similar approach in [the] future.""
The UK Competition and Markets Authority accepted commitments from Apple and Google to address concerns about app review, app ranking, use of data and interoperability instead of imposing binding app-store regulation. The commitments require the platforms to treat third-party developers fairly, especially when competing with their own apps. The CMA will monitor metrics such as apps approved or rejected, review times and developer complaints and may introduce specific requirements if firms fail to comply. The UK approach is pragmatic and non-binding, contrasting with the EU Digital Markets Act that forced technical openness, sideloading and fee changes.
Read at Engadget
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