CMA: Apple's Policies Stifle Mobile Browser Competition

The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has released its final report into mobile browsers and cloud gaming. The investigation found that several markets tied to mobile browsers aren't functioning well for consumers or businesses, stifling innovation and potentially curbing growth across the U.K. The spotlight falls heavily on Apple, with the report pinning most issues on policies that shape how browsers operate on iOS devices.

The investigation, led by an independent inquiry group, confirmed nearly all concerns raised in its November 2024 provisional report. Apple's tight grip on iOS, for instance, forces all browsers to use its WebKit engine, allegedly limiting competitors like Mozilla or Microsoft from rolling out unique features like faster load times, beefier security, or enhanced privacy options. The report also flags Apple's revenue-sharing deal with Google, which hands Apple a hefty cut of search ad revenue from Safari and Chrome on iOS. This setup, the CMA argues, dulls the financial incentive for either tech giant to outdo the other. On top of that, Apple's rules are said to choke progressive web apps and restrict in-app browsing, keeping rivals from gaining traction.

Two concerns did ease up since the provisional report. Apple's iOS 18.2 update in December 2024 simplified switching default browsers, addressing some user choice gripes. Google, meanwhile, offered fresh evidence showing it's dialed back aggressive prompts pushing Chrome on Android users. Still, the report stresses that broader competition problems persist.


Cloud gaming, another focus of the probe, got a cleaner bill of health. Apple's January 2024 App Store rule changes, which lifted a near-ban on cloud gaming apps, seem to have opened the door to more competition. The CMA found no pressing issues here, signaling no further action for now.

Looking ahead, the CMA's new powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, effective since January 2025, could shake things up. In January, the agency launched investigations to determine if Apple and Google deserve "strategic market status" (SMS) in their mobile ecosystems, including browsers. The inquiry group recommends that if either gets the SMS label, the CMA should step in with measures to level the playing field—potentially unlocking faster, safer browsing options for millions.

Margot Daly, who chaired the inquiry, said that: "Competition between mobile browsers isn't working well, and this is holding back innovation in the U.K." She praised the CMA's swift move to probe Apple and Google further, noting that the report's findings will fuel those efforts.

For Apple users, the outcome of those SMS investigations, due later this year, could mean a browser landscape that's less locked down.


Check the CMA's case page for the full report at the link below...

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