UK CMA secures fairness commitments from Apple and Google for app stores
Tags Policy · Consumer · Enterprise
The UK Competition and Markets Authority announced on May 11 that Apple and Google have proposed commitments to address fairness concerns in their mobile ecosystems — the first major action under the CMA's new digital markets competition framework. Apple agreed to enable developers to request interoperable access to features and functionality within its operating system. Both companies committed to preventing the use of non-public data from rival apps to benefit their own competing services. The commitments aim to improve app review processes and ranking systems for third-party developers. The CMA had previously asserted that both companies had an 'effective duopoly.' The commitments are expected to formally take effect from April 1, 2026, with the CMA warning it will impose formal conduct requirements if the companies fail to implement changes effectively.
Technical significance
The UK's new digital markets competition framework is producing its first major enforcement action, setting precedents that will influence similar proceedings in the EU and US. The commitment to prevent using non-public data from rival apps to benefit competing services directly addresses a long-standing antitrust concern about platform self-preferencing. Apple's agreement to allow interoperable access to OS features is a significant concession that could reshape the iOS developer ecosystem.