Latest news with #AppStoreFreedomAct
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The App Store Freedom Act Compromises User Privacy To Punish Big Tech
For years, federal lawmakers and regulators have used their power to penalize Big Tech companies for successfully serving American consumers. Rep. Kat Cammack (R–Fla.) is continuing this trend. On Tuesday, Cammack introduced the App Store Freedom Act, which intends to promote competition in the digital marketplace by forcing interoperability and open app development requirements on widely used app stores and operating systems. While Cammack says the bill will promote consumer choice, it would unintentionally deny consumers the ability to choose a private, secure, and reliable smartphone experience. The legislation was introduced less than a week after a federal judge ruled against Apple in a five-year-long antitrust case brought against it by Epic Games. Epic sued Apple in 2020 for "forcing app makers to use its payment system in exchange for access to the App Store," from which it collects a 30 percent commission, explains The New York Times. The judge ordered Apple in 2022 to allow developers to solicit payment from users outside the App Store and, most recently, forbade Apple from taking any commission on these sales. The App Store Freedom Act would require smartphone companies with over 100 million users in the U.S. to allow the installation of third-party app stores, as well as third-party apps, on their operating systems. It also forces covered companies to provide third-party developers with free access to all features accessible to their partners (those developers that only use the company's app store). Finally, the legislation would outlaw requiring developers to use the company's in-app payment system and require companies to allow developers to offer deals through a payment system not owned by the company. Shoshana Weissmann, resident technology and innovation fellow at the R Street Institute, tells Reason that the bill "isn't about apps at all but dislike of certain providers." Android permits users to download apps from "Unknown Sources," i.e., outside of the Google Play Store, so most provisions of the legislation don't apply to it; the act seems to be a bill of attainder against Apple. Compelling Apple to modify its iOS operating system to allow third-party app stores requires it to "change core security functions that protect everyone's data," not just those who install third-party apps, says Amy Bos, director of state and federal affairs for NetChoice, a trade association that advocates for free enterprise on the internet. Bos explains that the proposed legislation may require covered companies to give developers access to "lower-level system interfaces not designed for third-party access [and] hardware features with security implications (biometric sensors, secure enclaves)," raising security concerns for all users—even those who do not install third-party apps. Alex Reinauer, a research fellow with the Center for Technology and Innovation at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, tells Reason that the bill would largely eliminate the vetting process companies have to decide which developers may access certain APIs. "Opening up all API access to all third parties raises the risk of malware and generally threatens system reliability," explains Reinauer. Jennifer Huddleston, senior fellow in technology policy at the Cato Institute, says the bill's requirement that app stores allow additional payment systems may open up cybersecurity concerns and dilute the trust of app stores that new apps often rely on. Reinauer predicts that covered companies would limit features across the board to avoid having to share them with dubious developers, which would likewise reduce innovation. The bill itself recognizes that it may inadvertently render iPhones—and the 155 million Americans who use them—less secure; it disclaims that it does not "require a covered company…to provide service under a hardware or software warranty for damage caused by a third-party app or app store." That means if users are harmed by third-party apps, they will not be able to seek damages from Apple or Google. The App Store Freedom Act is not a victory for the free market or consumer choice. Instead, it seeks to plan the digital economy, forcing private companies to modify their operating systems while depriving consumers of their digital and financial security. Even for those who share Cammack's goal of "hold[ing] Big Tech accountable and prompt[ing] competition," compromising smartphone user data is a poor means of achieving this objective. The post The App Store Freedom Act Compromises User Privacy To Punish Big Tech appeared first on
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
US proposes law that could force Apple, Google to allow third-party app stores
A new bill in the US could force Apple and Google to let users download and install third-party app stores on their devices and make them as default. The draft legislation called App Store Freedom Act was introduced by Kat Cammack, a member of the US House of Representatives. It aims to 'promote competition and protect consumers and developers in the mobile app marketplace,' according to a report by The Verge. Its provisions apply to 'large app store operators' or app stores with more than 100 million users in the US. The bill proposed by the Republican lawmaker from Florida, US, comes on the heels of a major ruling in the Epic vs Apple antitrust case which has forced Apple to allow developers to direct users to third-party payment systems for in-app purchases. 'Dominant app stores have controlled customer data and forced consumers to use the marketplaces' own merchant services, instead of the native, in-app offerings provided by the applications and developers themselves,' Cammack was quoted as saying. 'The results are higher prices and limited selections for consumers and anti-competitive practices for developers that have stifled innovation,' she added. If the proposed legislation becomes law, Apple and Google would be required to offer developers 'equal access to interfaces, features, and development tools without cost or discrimination.' Users would also have to be allowed to remove or hide pre-installed apps on Android and iOS devices. If the companies do not comply, they could incur penalties imposed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as well as civil penalties of up to $1 million for every violation, as per the bill. Similar legislation was introduced by the European Union in 2023. Under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple is mandatorily required to allow users to download third-party app stores and set their preferred apps as default. After the DMA kicked into effect, Google made certain changes to comply with the regulations as well. For instance, users in the EU region are shown a browser choice screen when setting up their Android devices for the first time.
Hans India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
New Legislation Pushes Apple to Open Doors for Third-Party App Stores
A fresh legislative move could soon shake up how app marketplaces operate. OnTuesday, Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) introduced the App Store FreedomAct, a bill designed to compel major app store operators—such as Apple andGoogle—to allow third-party app stores on their platforms and let users setthem as default. According to the press release, the bill seeks to 'promote competition andprotect consumers and developers in the mobile app marketplace.' While itdoesn't mention Apple by name, it clearly targets platforms with over 100million U.S. users—putting both Apple's App Store and Google Play under itsscope. The bill goes beyond just app store access. It also aims to break downbarriers that currently limit developers' choices. Specifically, it wouldprohibit these tech giants from forcing developers to use in-house paymentsystems, requiring them instead to support third-party payment options. Additionally,it mandates fair access to development tools, features, and interfaces, withoutcost or discrimination. Users would also be able to delete or hidepre-installed apps. Companies found violating the act could face penalties from the FederalTrade Commission, with civil fines reaching up to $1 million per offence. This kind of legislation isn't unprecedented. The European Union has alreadypassed similar rules, compelling Apple to support third-party app stores andalternate default settings. In response, Apple recently started allowingdevelopers to direct users to external payment systems, stemming from the Epicv. Apple case. Google, too, has rolled out changes, including a new browserselection screen for first-time device setup. 'Dominant app stores have controlled customer data andforced consumers to use the marketplaces' own merchant services, instead of thenative, in-app offerings provided by the applications and developersthemselves,' Cammack stated. 'The results are higher prices and limitedselections for consumers and anti-competitive practices for developers thathave stifled innovation.' The billnow heads to the committee for consideration.
