An investigation team set up by the UK Competition Authority has provisionally concluded that Apple "stymie innovation in browsers used to access the web on mobile phones."
Although the report focuses primarily on Apple, it also points to a revenue-sharing agreement with Google, noting that the two companies "earn significant revenue" when Google Chrome on iOS, thereby reducing the "economic incentive to compete."
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The announcement comes the same week that the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Google must divest its Chrome browser, following a court ruling that labeled the company a monopoly in web search. Today's findings were expected.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a market investigation in 2021, investigating Apple and Google’s dominance in mobile, including their practices and policies in app stores and browsers. The following year, the regulator confirmed the launch of a formal investigation into the Android-iOS, focusing on browsers and cloud gaming. On Friday, the CMA announced that it would not pursue the cloud gaming part due to changes Apple has already made.
However, many of the other complaints remain. The CMA says Apple is forcing competing browsers in the UK to use the WebKit browser engine, thereby limiting their capabilities. Furthermore, browsers that use WebKit do not have the same access and functionality as Safari.
See also: USA: Major digital payment providers will be subject to supervision
An Apple spokesperson said the company disagrees with the findings and that any changes could “undermine user privacy and security .” A Google spokesperson said that “the open nature of Android has helped expand choice and accessibility to smartphones and apps.”
The CMA is seeking further comments on the provisional findings and expects to make a final decision by March 2025.
Source: techcrunch
