UK launches antitrust probe into Apple, Google mobile browsers

The British antitrust regulator "Competition and Markets Authority" (CMA) said today that it has launched an in-depth investigation into the dominance of Google and Apple in the mobile browser market.

In June this year, the UK's CMA conducted a preliminary investigation into the dominance of the two companies in the mobile browser market and asked for opinions from the outside world. The CMA said today that the results of the consultation show that we need to conduct in-depth investigations into the dominance of Apple and Google in the mobile browser market, as well as Apple's restrictions on cloud games through its App Store application store.

Sarah Cardell, interim chief executive of the CMA, said in a statement,

Many UK businesses and web developers have told us they are being held back by restrictions from Apple and Google. We will investigate this, to assess whether their concerns are justified. If Apple and Google do engage in unfair competitive practices, we will take steps to improve the environment for competition and innovation.

In response, Apple said today that it will engage in a constructive dialogue with the CMA to explain how its practices promote competition and choice while protecting consumer privacy and security. Google has yet to comment, but the company said in June that it would continue to work with the CMA.

In fact, as early as a year ago, the CMA conducted an investigation of Apple's and Google's operating systems (iOS and Android), application stores (App Store and Play Store), and web browsers (Safari and Chrome). The product exerts too much control over the user.

The CMA said at the time

Apple and Google maintain a firm grip on how we use our phones and we fear this will result in a loss of choice for millions of people in the UK