Republican Florida Rep. Kat Cammack introduced a bill Tuesday aimed at reining in Apple and Google’s dominance over mobile app stores.
Dubbed the “App Store Freedom Act,” the bill would force dominant tech firms to open their mobile platforms to third-party app stores and payment systems, while also banning exclusivity deals and self-preferencing behavior. Backed by the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), the bill comes amid mounting legal and political pressure on Big Tech to loosen its grip on software distribution and in-app transactions.
“At its core, this bill seeks to promote a competitive marketplace for consumers and developers, ensuring U.S. mobile users can choose the applications, payment methods and platforms that are best for them without unduly forcing developers to pay the price — both literally and figuratively — for straying from the dominant marketplace’ preferences,” Cammack said in a press release.
The legislation mandates that operating systems like iOS and Android must allow users to download apps from outside their official app stores, set those alternatives as the default option and remove any pre-installed apps — including the native app stores themselves. It also requires the companies to give independent developers the same software tools and features they provide to their own partners — at no additional cost.
The bill also targets rules that force developers to use Apple or Google’s in-house payment systems or prevent them from offering lower prices elsewhere — practices most associated with Apple’s App Store.
Cammack’s bill mirrors earlier bipartisan efforts to crack down on Big Tech gatekeeping but sharpens the focus on the mobile app economy — a sector increasingly under fire after an April federal court ruling found Apple in contempt over its App Store conduct with Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite.
“We must continue to hold Big Tech accountable and promote competition that allows all players to enter the field,” the congresswoman added.
CAF, whose members include Epic Games, Spotify, Life360 and Match Group, has long accused Apple and Google of abusing their dominance to stifle innovation and overcharge both consumers and developers.
“CAF applauds Congresswoman Cammack for introducing the App Store Freedom Act, legislation that will establish a fair and competitive mobile app marketplace.” Gene Burrus, global policy counsel for CAF, said in a statement. “This is a vital step towards empowering developers and consumers by ensuring a level playing field for all participants in the app ecosystem.”
Editor’s note: This piece has been updated with a quote from Rep. Kat Cammack.
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