ACT| The App Association Comment on App Store Announcement from Competition Markets Authority, Apple, and Google

LONDON – ACT | The App Association (ACT) welcomes Apple and Google’s recently announced commitments around the App Store and Google Play in the UK following the Competition Markets Authority’s (CMA) ‘strategic market status’ ruling last October. Commenting on the changes Stephen Tulip, UK Country Manager for ACT, said:

‘The commitments from Apple and Google are good news for small British app developers and a sensible solution to the CMA’s concerns.

‘ACT and our members have long called for many of these improvements, notably:

1. Greater transparency, predictability, and speed in app review
2. Clear and objective rules for app ranking and notification when rules change
3. Protection for app developer data against use by platforms for their own apps

‘Our members rely on the security and services that these app stores offer, which deliver consumer confidence and enables them to compete on a level playing field with larger developers.

‘The CMA’s consultative approach shows they have heard the concerns of our members, who reject the EU model of heavy-handed regulation where government bodies become de-facto product designers for the tech we all use daily.

‘These commitments should signal a bright future for small developers and the UK’s app economy as a whole and shows the benefits of regulators working in collaboration with industry. But as with anything, the devil is in the details, and we will be watching closely for more on how these commitments will be put into practice. We continue to have concerns with regulatory frameworks that risk punishing or deterring the very services and benefits our members get from app stores.

‘ACT looks forward to continuing to work with the CMA, Google, Apple, and other platforms to ensure a vibrant and dynamic app economy that supports small businesses and competition’.

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