The UK markets regulator stepped in, and Apple and Google have agreed to make modifications to their app stores in the UK. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that the big tech companies have promised not to favour their own apps and to be open about how they authorise alternative apps for sale, among other things.
Seven months after the regulator stated Apple and Google had a “effective duopoly” in the UK because they were the most powerful companies in the industry. Sarah Cardell, head of the CMA, said that the planned pledges “will boost the UK’s app economy” and that this was just the start of many steps.
She stated, “The UK digital markets competition regime is very flexible, and being able to get immediate commitments from Apple and Google is a practical way to quickly address the issues we’ve raised.
In October 2025, the CMA said that both Apple and Google’s app stores had “strategic market status.” This meant the CMA may request adjustments to improve competition and choice.
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