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Britain’s competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), announced on Wednesday that Apple and Google will be subject to tougher oversight of their mobile platforms under new measures targeting dominant technology firms.
The CMA confirmed it had designated the two companies with “strategic market status” following a nine-month investigation.
The competition regulator said the move aims to curb the duopoly held by Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android systems, which are pre-installed on virtually all mobile phones sold in the UK.
Their app stores and browsers, the regulator noted, hold either exclusive or leading positions, potentially limiting innovation and competition across the economy.
The SMS designation allows the CMA to compel Apple and Google to modify certain mobile services to offer consumers more choice.
Will Hayter, CMA executive director for digital markets, emphasised that “the platforms’ rules may be limiting innovation and competition,” underlining the regulator’s intent to ensure fairer conditions.
Both companies criticised the decision. Google described it as “disappointing, disproportionate and unwarranted,” warning that the new rules could introduce uncertainty for its Android operating system, Play Store, and Chrome browser.
Apple said adopting EU-style regulation would undermine its goal of providing the best products and warned of “weaker privacy and security, delayed access to new features, and a fragmented, less seamless experience” for users.
The CMA’s announcement follows a similar SMS designation for Google’s dominance in online search earlier this month, with consultations ongoing regarding the specific regulatory requirements.
Both Apple and Google maintain substantial UK operations, employing nearly 15,000 people combined, and Google has pledged £5 billion ($6.7 billion) in investment over the next two years to support the country’s AI initiatives.
