UK considers new rules for Apple and Google platforms
30 June 2026 23:00 (UTC+04:00)
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a
consultation on new rules that would require Apple and Google to
give app developers greater flexibility over payment systems and
broader access to mobile platform features,
AzerNEWS reports
In a statement released on Tuesday, the regulator said the
proposed measures are designed to increase competition by allowing
developers to direct users to alternative payment methods outside
the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, thereby avoiding
mandatory platform commission fees
According to the CMA, Apple currently restricts such practices
in the UK, while Google imposes various limitations on them. The
authority is also consulting on principles that would ensure any
fees charged for off-platform transactions are “fair and
reasonable,” preventing platforms from discouraging developers from
using alternative payment systems
“It’s important to give both app developers and users more
choice in how they interact and make transactions,” said Will
Hayter, Executive Director for Digital Markets at the CMA
The regulator is also gathering feedback on proposals that would
require third-party developers to gain access to Apple’s near-field
communication (NFC) technology on iPhone devices. Broader access to
NFC could allow developers to offer alternative contactless payment
solutions through iOS apps and potentially support future
innovations such as account-to-account payments, digital
currencies, and stablecoins
These consultations come approximately 18 months after the UK’s
new digital competition regulatory framework came into force. The
CMA noted that it has already completed three major strategic
market studies and has launched a fourth investigation into
Microsoft’s business software ecosystem, reflecting a broader
effort to regulate dominant tech platforms
An additional point highlighted by analysts is that similar
regulatory pressure is also increasing in other regions, including
the European Union under the Digital Markets Act, which is pushing
global tech companies toward more open app ecosystems. This
suggests that changes introduced in the UK could eventually
influence global app store policies rather than remain limited to
one market
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