New US bill could cause some serious cracks in Apple's walled garden — and allow third-party app stores
(Image credit: Future)
Last year saw the EU deliver a major blow to Apple's walled garden, with the Digital Market Act (DMA) forcing the phone maker to allow third-party app stores onto iOS. Apple complied with the legislation only in the EU. But could DMA-style changes happen in the U.S. as well?
Kat Cammack, a representative from Florida's 3rd district, has proposed this with the "App Store Freedom Act". The goal here is to "promote competition and protect consumers and developers" by "prohibiting certain anticompetitive practices by dominant app store operators."
The bill doesn't mention Apple by name, only mentioning that the rules would target "large app store operators" — those with over 100 million users. That means Google could be in the crosshairs as well, though the third-party app store issue is more or less irrelevant on Android. You may like It's more than just app stores
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
However, other provisions in this bill affect companies and any other app store that may arise in the coming years.
Not only are they required to allow third-party app stores to be installed, but users should also be able to set those app stores as the default. Developers are also supposed to get equal access to development tools, and app stores should allow the use of third-party payment systems.
Some mentioned provisions are already in effect, though. One example is allowing users to remove or hide pre-installed apps, which both Apple and Google already do.
Breaking any of these new rules could lead to fines by the FTC, with additional penalties up to $1 million per violation. It's not quite the financial hit as the DMA allows fines up to 10% of a company's global revenue — with that maximum rising to 20% for repeated infringements. But it's better than nothing.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. What this means
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The crucial thing about this isn't that this is potential federal legislation. While certain states have implemented rules about technology, such as California's right to repair bill, these rules would affect the entire United States.
If it passes through all the wheels of government and the White House unchanged, it would be a serious blow for big tech companies — especially Apple.
Thanks to recent court rulings, the company has already had to make some rule changes about App Store payments, but putting those rules into law would be a huge blow to Apple's walled garden.
Whether that will actually happen is another matter entirely. Turning a bill into a law takes time, and in the process, various things can and do change. So we'll have to wait and see how this one plays out over the coming months. More from Tom's Guide
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bill Atkinson won the respect of Steve Jobs by creating a high-level programming language in just 6 days
Bill Atkinson died on June 5 after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 74. Atkinson was one of the earliest Apple employees, responsible for key Mac software and its graphical user interfaces. But he ultimately won the respect of his boss, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, by creating a version of a high-level programming language for the Apple II computer in just six days. Bill Atkinson, who worked at Apple from 1978—two years after its founding—to 1990, died on June 5 after battling pancreatic cancer, his family wrote on Facebook. He was 74. Atkinson was the 51st employee at Apple, and he was personally recruited by Steve Jobs. According to Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs, Atkinson, a doctoral student in neuroscience at the time, initially declined Apple's request to come work at the company. But Steve Jobs sent Atkinson a nonrefundable plane ticket, and then gave him a three-hour pitch on why he should join the company. 'Think about surfing on the front edge of a wave,' Jobs recalled telling Atkinson in that meeting. 'It's really exhilarating. Now think about dog-paddling at the tail end of that wave. It wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun. Come down here and make a dent in the universe.' Atkinson accepted the job offer—and as a result, he never finished his PhD. Atkinson would go on to develop some of Apple's key software, including Quickdraw, which allowed old Apple computers to draw images and windows on the screen, and HyperCard, an easy-to-use software development kit so creators could build their own applications. He also notably developed the graphical user interface of the Apple Lisa, a precursor to the Macintosh, and later several of the Mac's user interfaces. But his very first job was to develop a program that could track stock portfolios. The software would auto-dial the Dow Jones service to get quotes, and then hang up. His second project at Apple, though, was ultimately how Atkinson won Jobs' respect. Jobs had been resisting using a new programming language for the Apple II, one of Apple's earliest and most popular personal computers that spawned many successors—including the Lisa, the Apple III, the Apple II Plus, Apple IIe, Apple IIc, Apple IIc Plus—though most of those computers, save for the Apple IIe, were abject failures. Jobs at the time had resisted giving the Apple II a new programming language, thinking BASIC, the simple programming language that powered the original Apple I, was all the Apple II needed going forward. Atkinson, however, pressed Jobs to build something better. 'Since you're so passionate about it, I'll give you six days to prove me wrong,' Jobs told Atkinson, according to Isaacson's biography of the Apple co-founder. Sure enough, in just six days, Atkinson had created a specialized version of Pascal, a high-level programming language made especially for the Apple II. According to Isaacson, 'Jobs respected him ever after.' Atkinson would later leave Apple in 1990 to co-found his own company called General Magic, which built precursors to USB and small touchscreens. In 2007, he was an outside developer for a small startup called Numenta, which leverages what we know about human neuroscience to develop AI. But Atkinson also spent much of his later years working as a nature photographer, using a digital printing process he helped create, and a mobile app he developed, to let users make postcards out of their digital images to send via postal service or email. Atkinson is succeeded by his wife, two daughters, stepson, stepdaughter, two brothers, four sisters, and his dog, Poppy, according to his family's Facebook message. This story was originally featured on
Engadget
9 minutes ago
- Engadget
iPadOS 26 makes Apple's tablets more like Macs
iPadOS 26 is coming to supercharge your tablet's productivity. At WWDC 2025, Apple previewed what may be the iPad's biggest software update yet. You can finally resize app windows fluidly. Meanwhile, the menu bar brings drop-downs for more organized controls. It's all wrapped in Apple's new Liquid Glass redesign. All in all, iPad users craving a more Mac-like experience have plenty to chew on here. Developing…
TechCrunch
9 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Apple Wallet gains new travel-friendly features in iOS 26
Apple Wallet is getting a bit more travel-friendly, Apple announced at WWDC 2025. The app will soon be able to hold a digital version of your passport, and boarding passes will gain new features that promise to make traveling a little bit easier. The new passport feature is 'not a replacement for your physical passport,' Apple said, but it can be used in apps that need to verify age and identity and at supported TSA checkpoints. Digital passports could help procrastinators who have yet to get their Real ID. Boarding passes have long been stored in the Wallet app, allowing for quick access from the lock screen. But with iOS 26, they're getting a host of new features. Boarding passes will now include links to terminal maps so it's easier to find your way to the gate or to baggage claim. Once at the claim, Wallet's new link to Find My should come in handy, allowing users to check the boarding pass to track the progress of their AirTagged luggage.
