A new bill would force Apple to allow third-party app stores

Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) introduced a measure Tuesday that would necessitate “large app store operators” similar Apple to fto users instal third-party app stores and acceptable them arsenic their default. The bill, called the App Store Freedom Act, aims to “promote contention and support consumers and developers successful the mobile app marketplace,” according to a press merchandise connected Tuesday.

Though the measure doesn’t notation Apple by name, it carves retired rules for “large app store operators,” which it defines arsenic app stores having much than 100 cardinal users successful the US. The measure would people Google’s practices arsenic well, arsenic it would unit large app stores to fto developers usage third-party outgo systems.

It would besides necessitate Apple and Google to connection developers “equal entree to interfaces, features, and improvement tools without outgo oregon discrimination,” arsenic good arsenic let users to region oregon fell pre-installed apps. Violations of the measure would effect successful penalties from the Federal Trade Commission, on with an further civilian punishment of up to $1 cardinal for each violation.

The European Union has introduced akin authorities that has forced Apple to fto users download third-party app stores and change their default apps. Last week, Apple started allowing developers to nexus to extracurricular payments successful effect to a ruling successful the Epic v. Apple case. Google has besides made changes aft the EU’s regulations went into effect, including adding a caller browser prime screen erstwhile users acceptable up their instrumentality for the archetypal time.

“Dominant app stores person controlled lawsuit information and forced consumers to usage the marketplaces’ ain merchant services, alternatively of the native, in-app offerings provided by the applications and developers themselves,” Cammack said successful the property release. The results are higher prices and constricted selections for consumers and anti-competitive practices for developers that person stifled innovation.”