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- A bipartisan US bill aims to end Apple and Google’s dominance by forcing support for sideloading, third-party payments, and alternative app stores.
- Developer complaints and years of antitrust scrutiny have built momentum for stronger regulation of app platforms.
- The EU has already implemented similar reforms, prompting US lawmakers to try and close the regulatory gap.
- While critics cite security concerns, supporters argue that tighter app store controls mostly protect profits, not users.
A renewed push in the US Senate could spell the end of the mobile app store dominance long held by Apple and Google.
Lawmakers have revived the Open App Markets Act, a bipartisan bill designed to curb the control these tech giants exert over their respective app marketplaces. If passed, the legislation could transform how users download apps, make payments, and engage with developers across millions of devices.
Initially introduced in 2021, the bill seeks to increase consumer and developer freedom by mandating support for sideloading apps, alternative app stores, and third-party payment systems. These provisions would primarily target app stores with more than 50,000 monthly users, essentially placing Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store directly in the crosshairs. The legislation also aims to restrict the platforms from giving preferential treatment to their own apps in search results.
Antitrust Frustrations Finally Reach Capitol Hill
This fresh round of legislative scrutiny follows years of discontent over app store practices. Concerns about monopolistic behavior have been brewing since at least 2018, when the US Supreme Court allowed Apple to be sued for alleged antitrust violations. At the center of this debate is the 30 percent commission charged by Apple and Google, which developers argue forces them to inflate prices and cuts into already slim margins.
Developers have also criticized the app review process as slow and arbitrary, claiming it undermines innovation and makes it harder for smaller developers to compete. Allegations of Apple favoring its own apps in search results have added to the perception that the ecosystem is designed to serve platform owners rather than users or developers.
Europe’s Head Start Prompts Regulatory Catch-Up in the US
While the United States has been debating regulation, the European Union has already taken action. Its Digital Markets Act has forced Apple to open up to sideloading and alternative app stores, pushing the company to adjust its practices across the continent. However, Apple has limited these changes to users physically located within the EU and introduced new fees that have drawn fresh criticism from European regulators.
The result is a fragmented app experience for users worldwide. European consumers enjoy new freedoms that their American counterparts do not. With this revived bill, US lawmakers are looking to close that gap and bring parity to the global digital marketplace.
Debate Intensifies Between Security and Market Freedom
Critics of the bill argue that loosening app store rules could compromise user safety. Groups concerned about cybersecurity and parental protections warn that allowing unvetted software through sideloading could expose devices to malware and weaken oversight for children.
On the other side, supporters say these concerns are overstated and that Apple and Google’s tight control serves corporate interests more than consumer security.
They point to examples where Apple allegedly restricted competing apps, especially those offering features like screen time management. European regulators have gone further, ruling that Apple’s rules on payment options violate competition laws.
The Road Ahead: High Stakes for Tech’s Biggest Platforms
As the Open App Markets Act returns to the spotlight, it represents more than a policy tweak. It’s a response to a long-standing struggle between centralized platform control and open digital innovation.
For Apple and Google, the outcome could reshape how their businesses operate in the US and beyond. For developers and users, it could redefine how mobile apps are built, discovered, and paid for in the years to come.
