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The United Kingdom’s competition regulator has unveiled plans to curb the dominance of tech giants Apple and Google in the mobile device sector, citing concerns over their control of operating systems, app stores, and web browsers.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Wednesday that it intends to assign both companies “strategic market status” (SMS), a classification under new UK legislation that would place them under stricter regulatory obligations.
The announcement follows a formal investigation launched in January into the extent of Apple and Google’s influence over mobile ecosystems. The CMA described the pair’s dominance as “an effective duopoly.”
“Apple and Google’s mobile platforms play a vital role in the UK economy,” said CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell. “But our investigation has so far found opportunities to encourage greater innovation and consumer choice.”
If the SMS designation goes ahead, it would give the CMA the power to force Apple and Google to alter how certain mobile services function, potentially giving users more control over apps, browsers, and default settings.
The move would not imply that either company had broken competition laws, the regulator clarified.
A final decision on the SMS designation will be made following a consultation, with a verdict expected by 22 October.
Reacting to the announcement, Google’s competition spokesperson, Oliver Bethell, called the CMA’s move “disappointing and unwarranted.”
This proposed designation comes amid wider global efforts to rein in Big Tech. The EU’s Digital Markets Act already grants similar powers to European regulators, including the authority to impose substantial fines for violations.
In June, the CMA also recommended assigning an SMS status to Google concerning its dominance in the search engine market.
