## UK Watchdog Bites Apple Over Browser Restrictions
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally concluded that Apple’s tight grip on its mobile browser ecosystem is stifling innovation and hindering user experience. The CMA’s preliminary report, released recently, points to Apple’s Safari policies as the main culprit, alleging they create a walled garden that prevents competing browsers from offering enhanced features and performance, particularly regarding web technologies that could lead to faster loading speeds. This bottleneck, the CMA argues, ultimately impacts iPhone users who are denied access to potentially superior browsing experiences.
### Progressive Web Apps Stymied
The investigation also uncovered a strong desire among UK developers to leverage progressive web apps (PWAs) as a viable alternative to traditional App Store distribution. However, the CMA found that Apple’s iOS limitations render this option largely impractical, further solidifying the tech giant’s control over the mobile browsing landscape.
### Apple and Google: A Cozy Relationship?
Further fueling the CMA’s concerns is a revenue-sharing arrangement between Apple and Google. The regulator suggests this agreement significantly diminishes the incentive for either company to compete aggressively within the iOS browser market. The report also alleges that both companies exert influence over how users encounter browser choices, subtly nudging them towards their own offerings.
### A Call for Open Competition
Margot Daly, chair of the CMA’s independent inquiry group, stated that the investigation’s provisional findings indicate a dysfunctional mobile browser market that is hindering innovation in the UK. While the investigation initially encompassed both mobile browsers and cloud gaming, the CMA has opted to focus solely on browsers, acknowledging Apple’s recent steps to permit cloud gaming apps on the App Store.
### The Digital Markets Act: A New Dawn?
The CMA recommends addressing these competition concerns through the forthcoming Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, slated to take effect in January 2025. This legislation empowers the CMA to designate companies with “Strategic Market Status” and implement interventions to foster a more competitive environment. The CMA is currently soliciting public feedback on its provisional findings until December 13, with a final report anticipated in March 2025. Parallel investigations into mobile browser competition are also underway by the European Commission and the United States Department of Justice, signaling a global push for greater openness in the mobile browser arena.
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