UK seeks to curb Apple, Google's grip on mobile platforms
LONDON: Britain's competition watchdog on Wednesday proposed measures to tackle Apple and Google's dominance in the mobile device market, as it looks to rein in the US tech giants' so-called duopoly.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it proposes to designate Apple and Google's mobile platforms with "strategic market status (SMS)", subjecting them to special requirements under new UK regulations.
An investigation was launched in January into the companies' control over the mobile ecosystems, including operating systems, app stores and browsers.
The CMA described their dominance as "an effective duopoly".
"Apple and Google's mobile platforms are both critical to the UK economy ... but our investigation so far has identified opportunities for more innovation and choice," CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said in a statement.
Google's spokesman on competition, Oliver Bethell, said the announcement was "disappointing and unwarranted".
If approved, the SMS designation would allow the CMA to require Apple and Google to change how certain mobile services operate, with the aim of offering consumers greater choice.
The regulator stressed that the designation does not imply that these companies have acted anti-competitively.
The final decision is subject to consultation and expected by October 22.
A similar tech competition law from the European Union, the Digital Markets Act, carries the potential for hefty financial penalties.
The CMA in June proposed designating Google with SMS designation in the search engine market due to its dominant position. – AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Google to invest $6 billion in southern India data centre, sources say
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Google is seen on its office building in Hyderabad, India, January 29, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Google will invest $6 billion to develop a 1-gigawatt data centre and its power infrastructure in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in the Alphabet unit's first such investment in India, government sources said on Wednesday. Due to be built in the port city of Visakhapatnam, the data centre investment includes $2 billion in renewable energy capacity that will be used to power the facility, two Andhra Pradesh government sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The search giant's data centre will be the largest in capacity and investment size in Asia and is part a multi-billion-dollar expansion of its data centre portfolio across the region in countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. In April, Alphabet said it was still committed to spending some $75 billion this year to build data centre capacity despite the economic uncertainty resulting from U.S. President Donald Trump's global tariff offensive. Alphabet did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Andhra Pradesh's information technology minister Nara Lokesh, who is in Singapore to discuss investments with thegovernment and business leaders there, did not comment on the Google investment. "We've made certain announcements like Sify, which are public," he said, referring to a 550-MW data centre Sify Technologies plans to build in the state. "There are certain announcements which are not yet public. In October, we will make those announcements." STATE'S POST-SPLIT INVESTMENT DRIVE Andhra Pradesh, a state run by a leading ally of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was split into two in 2014, losing its former capital Hyderabad and a major revenue source to the newly created Telangana state. Andhra Pradesh has since been looking to attract investments to ease the financial strains of high debt and social spending. Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh has already been able to finalise investments in data centres with total capacity of 1.6 GW, adding that it aims to build 6 GW of data centres over the next five years from nearly zero currently. He expects the initial 1.6 GW of already agreed data centres to be operational in the next 24 months. That would be more than the 1.4 GW currently in operation in the entire country, according to real estate consultancy Anarock. "We're also working on getting three cable landing stations in Visakhapatnam. We want to create enough of cable network, which will be two times what Mumbai has today," Lokesh said. Cable landing stations - typically located close to data centres requiring fast and reliable connections to global networks - are used to store equipment which receives and relays data from undersea cables. Lokesh also said the state was looking to build up energy infrastructure to meet sustainability requirements of data centres. He said he anticipated power generation capacity requirements of as much as 10 GW from the electricity-intensive industry over the next five years. "Majority will end up being actually green energy, and that's the unique value proposition that we bring to the table," he said. Some of the additional capacity will be coal-fired, however, as data centres require reliable, high volume power throughout the day, he added. (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
S&P, Nasdaq futures rise ahead of data, Fed decision and Big Tech earnings
S&P 500 E-minis were up 0.12%, Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 0.23% and Dow E-minis were up 0.04%. (EPA Images pic) NEW YORK : S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures edged up today as investors braced for fresh economic data, a Federal Reserve (Fed) policy decision and earnings reports from Wall Street's tech heavyweights. At 6.58am, S&P 500 E-minis were up 7.75 points, or 0.12%, Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 53 points, or 0.23%, Dow E-minis were up 18 points, or 0.04% The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq snapped their record run yesterday due to disappointing results from Dow components UnitedHealth and Merck. With Wall Street's megacap giants set to unveil their earnings, investors are expecting markets to hit new highs after Microsoft and Meta Platforms report after the bell. Amazon and Apple, which are reporting tomorrow, are also in focus. Shares of Starbucks jumped 4.5% in premarket trading after the coffee chain operator reported a higher-than-expected revenue jump in the third quarter. Global payments processing company Visa fell 1.7%, despite beating estimates for third-quarter earnings, as it kept its annual net revenue growth forecast unchanged. A wave of key economic data, including an early reading of second-quarter GDP at 8.30am and July private payrolls, will offer fresh insight into the economy's strength and the resilience of the labour market amid ongoing trade tensions. Economists polled by Reuters expect GDP to have rebounded at a 2.4% annualised pace, following a 0.5% decline last quarter. Investors will also closely monitor the interest rate decision from the Fed, which is widely expected to hold rates steady. While analysts anticipate little drama from the announcement itself, investors will be parsing chair Jerome Powell's comments for any hints on future policy direction, especially as the Fed navigates political pressure and assesses the effects of tariffs on inflation. 'Based on the stronger data two weeks ago and with two more prints to come before the September meeting, we see no compelling reason why chair Powell would change his tune at today's press conference,' said Kenneth Broux, head of corporate research, FX and rates at Societe Generale. Meanwhile, two days of US-China negotiations ended in both sides agreeing to seek an extension of their 90-day tariff truce, which expires on Aug 12. US officials said it would be up to President Donald Trump to approve the extension. South Korea was also lobbying to secure a trade deal ahead of Trump's Aug 1 deadline as its officials met US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington. The EU on Sunday joined the list of US trading partners that have struck agreements with Washington. Its framework deal with the US halved import duties to 15% for the bloc. Among other earnings moves, Humana and GE HealthCare gained 8.3% and 1.3%, respectively, after the companies raised their annual profit forecasts.
Barnama
10 hours ago
- Barnama
- 16 Billion Passwords Leaked: Why Malaysians Should Take Digital Security Seriously
Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. This was not simply a case of old data being reused. Experts confirmed that the breach included fresh, active login credentials. This makes it especially dangerous, as cybercriminals could target almost any online service using the stolen information. In June 2025, researchers uncovered what is believed to be the largest data breach in history. More than 16 billion passwords linked to major platforms like Google, Apple, Facebook and others were found exposed online. A staggering 38% used the exact same password, and another 20% made only minor tweaks, such as changing a number or adding a symbol. A comprehensive academic study, published in Communications of the ACM, which analysed over 28 million users across 107 services, found that only 17% of users created fully unique passwords for each account. Even more concerning is that not all the data was stolen through sophisticated hacking. Much of it was exposed due to simple human error, such as saving passwords in unsecured files or reusing weak passwords across different platforms. What does this mean for Malaysians? This means a single compromised password could grant access to multiple linked accounts, including email, banking, and sensitive government platforms. As Malaysia moves further into the digital space, this global breach should serve as a local warning. Malaysians are increasingly relying on the internet for essential services such as banking, shopping, healthcare and accessing government and private services. But with increased convenience comes increased exposure. Local threats are on the rise. Between 2024 and 2025, a total of 96 data breach incidents involving public sector user accounts were recorded by NC4 under the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), with cases almost doubling from 34 in 2024 to 62 in 2025. Most of these incidents involved stolen usernames and passwords, through phishing, ransomware, or other cyberattacks. While the exact source of each breach is often unclear, one thing is certain: cyber threats are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. Malaysians must stay alert and take steps to protect their digital identities. Strengthening our digital foundations This is where stronger systems come in, not just for companies, but for individuals. One promising development is MyDigital ID, Malaysia's national digital identity initiative. MyDigital ID provides a secure and verified identity layer by using biometric features such as fingerprints or facial recognition to confirm a user's identity, uniquely verified against official government database. This ensures that only the rightful individual can access digital services, whether it's for government or private platforms. Unlike traditional username-and-password logins, MyDigital ID supports multi-factor authentication to strengthen trust and security in the digital space, helping to protect users from impersonation and unauthorised access through stolen credentials. Even in the face of widespread data breaches, users remain protected with MyDigital ID because access depends on who you are, not just what you know. Importantly, MyDigital ID is public digital infrastructure, aimed at increasing trust in the digital ecosystem and simplifying how we securely access services. It represents a shift in how we think about digital identity, from weak, repeated logins to secure, centralised verification. The rollout of MyDigital ID focuses on trust, transparency, and user protection, values that are urgently needed in today's threat landscape. What you can do now While governments and companies continue strengthening their systems, individuals remain the first line of defence. That starts with adopting better habits: always enable two-factor authentication when offered, especially for your most sensitive accounts like banking and email. Avoid saving passwords in browsers or unsecured files. Perhaps most importantly for Malaysians, it's time to seriously consider registering for MyDigital ID. It offers a safer way to access digital services without relying solely on passwords and as it becomes more widely integrated into both government and private systems, it will offer more convenience without compromising security. It's one of the most practical steps you can take today to future-proof your digital life. Finally, stay informed. NACSA regularly shares cybersecurity alerts and best practices. Following these sources, not just news headlines, can make all the difference when the next breach happens. Looking ahead 'This breach is a wake-up call for all of us. The internet isn't getting safer on its own, and traditional passwords won't keep up with today's threats. Protecting your digital identity is no longer optional. It is essential,' says Nik Hisham Nik Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer, My Digital ID Sdn Bhd. With good habits, stronger technology and reliable platforms like MyDigital ID, Malaysians can take control of their digital safety. Check your accounts, stay alert and make security part of your everyday digital life. MyDigital ID MyDigital ID is a safe and trusted digital identity platform that is designed to strengthen and simplify online identity verification, without replacing the MyKad system. It works as a single login solution for digital services, offering greater safety and accessibility to citizens in accessing online services and performing transactions. MyDigital ID prioritises data safety and privacy. It does not store any biometric data or personal database and does not function as the replacement of MyKad for identification purposes. Please visit for further information. -- BERNAMA Nur Farah Ilyana Idros is a Public Relations and Communications Officer at MyDigital ID Sdn Bhd.
