This is a new blow of pressure from London on the American “tech” giants, which Donald Trump promised to defend: the British competition regulator launched two separate investigations on Thursday into the ecosystems of Apple and Google on cell phones and tablets.
These investigations will assess “the position of these companies in their respective “mobile ecosystems”, which include operating systems, application stores and browsers,” announced the regulator, the CMA, in a press release.
This procedure could lead to the designation of the two groups as “strategic companies in the market”, which could result in specific requirements under a new digital competition regime which came into force on January 1.
The new British regime is similar to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that came into force last year in the European Union, which a handful of tech giants including Apple, Google and Meta must comply with. and which intends to put an end to their abuse of dominant position.
“Almost all mobile devices sold in the UK come pre-installed with iOS (Apple’s operating system) or Android (Google’s) and Apple and Google’s app stores and browsers occupy exclusive or prominent positions on their platforms,” notes the CMA on Thursday.
Decision by end of October
The regulator could, for example, require American giants to let other applications access “key functionalities” or ask them to authorize access to applications or payment functionalities outside their respective platforms.
The CMA is due to make its decision on October 22.
“The openness of Android has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to cell phones and applications,” Google argued in a statement sent to AFP.
Apple, for its part, told AFP that it was “facing competition in all segments and in all territories” where it is present, assuring that the company “will continue to collaborate constructively with the CMA”.
-The apple brand is currently on trial in London, accused of having abused the dominant position of its application store in the United Kingdom. The plaintiffs hope to obtain more than 1.5 billion pounds (1.8 billion euros).
The regulator had already opened another investigation last week into “Google’s position” on the search engine market “and its impact on consumers and businesses”. A decision is expected on October 13.
On eggs
The “tech” sector is buoyed by the return to the presidency of the United States of Donald Trump, whose promises of deregulation could lead to a standoff with authorities on the European continent, considered too rigid.
Both the United Kingdom and the European Union are walking on eggshells, careful not to offend the new masters in Washington.
The investigations announced Thursday in London “were entirely expected” since the entry into force of new British rules which “reproduce the approach adopted by the European Commission”, commented Alex Haffner, lawyer specializing in competition issues and partner of the Fladgate firm.
But “what is more interesting is the way in which this is part of the radical change” at the head of the British regulator, whom the government has asked to redouble its efforts so that its decisions contribute to the growth of United Kingdom.
While the CMA has had several disagreements in recent years with the American giants of the sector, the British government announced on Wednesday the appointment of a former boss of Amazon, Doug Gurr, as interim president of the regulator.
“This is about sending a message” to affirm that the United Kingdom “is open to investment and that we are working with partners around the world to encourage (them), assured the government.
