UK Regulator Blames Apple for Stifling Mobile Browser Competition

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Wednesday issued its final verdict on the state of the country's mobile browser market, and the regulator has concluded that Apple's policies are largely responsible for hampering competition and innovation.

app store blue banner uk fixed
The CMA's independent inquiry group's investigation found that Apple's requirement for all iOS browsers to use its WebKit engine is stifling competition, and effectively prevents rival browsers from introducing unique features or optimizations on iPhones and iPads, regardless of their capabilities on other platforms.

The full report outlines several problematic Apple practices beyond the WebKit requirement, including giving Safari preferential access to iOS features compared to competing browsers, imposing limitations on in-app browsing, and prominently displaying Safari as the pre-installed default browser on all iPhones.

Google also came under scrutiny for pre-installing Chrome on Android devices, but the investigation found that Apple's restrictions were more fundamental to market competition. The CMA also flagged the lucrative arrangement where Google pays Apple billions annually to remain the default search engine on iOS devices, noting this deal "significantly reduces their financial incentives to compete."

Both companies have made some concessions since the CMA published its preliminary findings last November. The report acknowledges these improvements have "addressed some, but not all, of the concerns relating to choice architecture," specifically mentioning Apple's December software update that modified how users can change default browsers.

However, to address the remaining issues, the regulator proposed several potential remedies including forcing Apple to allow alternative browser engines on iOS, implementing browser choice screens during device setup (similar to the one found in the EU), and restricting the revenue-sharing search deal between Apple and Google.

These recommendations aren't immediately enforceable, as the CMA is first proceeding with separate investigations to determine whether Apple and Google should be designated with "strategic market status" (SMS) under the UK's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. The designation is expected to be decided later this year, and would give the CMA authority to impose stricter regulations on the companies.

If granted SMS designation, Apple and Google could face legally binding conduct requirements and risk substantial penalties — up to 10% of their annual global turnover — for violations.

The cloud gaming portion of the investigation, which had previously raised concerns about Apple's App Store restrictions, concluded that "no further action is necessary" following policy changes Apple made during the course of the investigation.

The UK report follows similar scrutiny from other global regulators, including the European Commission and the United States Department of Justice, which are also examining mobile browser competition.

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Top Rated Comments

Ridge Racer Avatar
17 weeks ago

I have 3 different browsers installed on my iPad right now.
No you don't. You have 3 different front-ends to the same browser engine (Webkit). Those three "different" browsers won't render sites any differently or better than any other, or offer newer web features that aren't present in WebKit.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
17 weeks ago

Maybe the CMA should ask why the UK has not contributed to the market in browsers? Why they have just relied on American companies?

Isn’t it about time the UK and Europe did something. Protected start ups, provided better access to finance and allowed alternatives to the USA giants. It’s time to have more European based tech and software firms and end our dependance on the US.
I don't completely disagree with you. But check what CPU safari is running on and where that IP came from, or who created the first web browser..
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thiscatisfat Avatar
17 weeks ago
The same regulator who wants UK residents to have less privacy with their Apple products? Or is that a different regulator?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Luna Murasaki Avatar
17 weeks ago
The WebKit requirement on iPhones is probably the only thing left stopping the entire web from becoming Chromium-only. Already most of my dad's web sites require him to put Safari away and open up Chrome, and I've switched from Safari to Vivaldi specifically because of the way the wind is blowing. If there were a way to run Chromium's rendering engine on an iPhone that would be the end of it and we'd officially have an IE6 monoculture again only with Chromium this time. But that seems to be what the entire tech community wants for some reason, so I'm sure there will be much rejoicing.

As far as the browsers themselves are concerned, Chrome overwhelmingly dominates on Windows even though Edge is the default, preinstalled browser and even though unlike Apple, Microsoft shamelessly engages in user-hostile practices to keep it as the default. So it clearly doesn't matter like people think it does. But let's just ignore that so we can hate on Apple more.

I think it's wonderful that these governments are finally trying to regulate these companies, because regulation is badly needed. But they are completely doing this the wrong way and focusing on the wrong things. How about an actual journaled file system every OS is required to support? How about prohibiting Microsoft Word from disabling functionality to punish you for saving your documents to anything other than OneDrive? Instead, the focus seems to be on helping different companies make more money at the cost of user experience.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Evil Lair Avatar
17 weeks ago
One of the best things about recently trying out Android is getting the real actual Firefox, with most of its extensions and add-ons.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fuzzball84 Avatar
17 weeks ago
Maybe the CMA should ask why the UK has not contributed to the market in browsers? Why they have just relied on American companies?

Isn’t it about time the UK and Europe did something. Protected start ups, provided better access to finance and allowed alternatives to the USA giants. It’s time to have more European based tech and software firms and end our dependance on the US.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)