US senators reintroduce the bipartisan Open App Markets Act to try to break Apple's and Google's app store dominance; the 2021 version never came up for a vote
The renewed push matters because it keeps mobile app-store access and payment rules at the center of the competition-policy debate around Apple and Google, rather than treating their stores solely as product ecosystems.
First-order effects
Apple and Google face renewed congressional scrutiny of the rules through which developers distribute apps and process in-app payments; reintroduction itself does not change those rules.
Developers and app-store customers regain a live legislative vehicle for seeking alternative distribution and payment options, though passage remains uncertain after the prior bill stalled.
Second-order effects
The prospect of legislation raises pressure on both companies to defend, adjust, or more clearly justify store policies that affect third-party distribution, billing, and app access.
Payment providers and alternative app-distribution channels could become more relevant to developers if the proposal advances, while incumbent stores would have to protect their roles on terms set by legislation rather than policy alone.
Third-order effects
If repeated bipartisan efforts translate into law, mobile operating-system owners could lose some discretion to govern the commercial access layer of their ecosystems.
The larger unresolved question is whether formal openness produces practical choice: technical, security, and commercial rules could still determine how usable alternative channels are.
The trend: This is another attempt to make mobile app-store gatekeeping more contestable through rules on distribution and payments.
The sort of side-loading and third party app store access this bill would mandate are typically associated with less privacy & security — not more. How does this align with the goal of keeping children safe online? [Screenshot of Politico article “How did this porn app get on m…
“Strike a balance” is a fun turn of phrase for a gatekeeper when the other two stakeholders are on the negative end of the decision. This alleged “balance” requires you to believe Apple allowing competitive payment choices is bad for consumers or developers. 3/3 [image]
Double-jaw-drop at this statement for anyone who followed the formal proceedings for Apple's compliance failures (after years of games). And criminal contempt referral to US attorney. /2 [image]
Sens. @MarshaBlackburn, @SenBlumenthal & others are reintroducing the Open App Markets Act (OAMA), a bill that would weaken app store safety standards and restrict how platforms can moderate hate speech & misinformation. CCIA responds: https://buff.ly/ENiV4wc [image]
We commend @MarshaBlackburn @SenBlumenthal for introducing the Open App Markets Act, which will: 🔓Unlock app stores 📉Reduce prices w/ more competition 🚫Ban anti-competitive practices We thank these Senators for their enduring leadership and urge swift passage.
Senators Blackburn and Blumenthal deserve a ton of credit for their continued leadership on promoting app store competition. The Open App Markets Act is supported by a wide range of groups and individuals across the political spectrum, including 👇
Big Tech giants have forced American consumers to use their app stores at the expense of innovative startups that threaten their bottom line. Today, @SenBlumenthal and I filed the Open App Markets Act to promote competition and protect consumers within the app market.
The reintroduction of the Open App Markets Act is another crucial step in the battle to rein in the unchecked power of Big Tech...Apple and Google have operated as unaccountable, monopolistic gatekeepers on the app store market for far too long...
Just read Apple's pitch to ninth circuit after failing to stay district court. Jaw dropped they're trying to throw out the injunction(s! - “both new and old") for their compliance games? Old was held up by the ninth and denied cert by SCOTUS. /1 [image]
The Open Apps Market Act has been introduced in the United States Senate. At long last, freedom from the Apple Tax and competition on a level playing field are coming to American app consumers and developers, as they came to Europe in 2024.