"App Store Freedom Act" would force Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores

[Skye Jacobs]

What just happened? A new bill introduced in Congress aims to challenge Apple's and Google's control over mobile app marketplaces. If passed, it could transform how millions of Americans access apps and reshape the business models of the largest tech companies.

A new bill introduced in the US House of Representatives could change how Americans use and access mobile apps. The App Store Freedom Act, spearheaded by Representative Kat Cammack of Florida, directly targets the dominance of tech giants like Apple and Google in the mobile app marketplace. While the legislation does not mention these companies by name, it explicitly targets any app store with over 100 million US users, a threshold only Apple and Google currently meet.

If enacted, the bill would require major app store operators to allow users to install third-party app stores and set them as the default option. This move is designed to increase competition and consumer choice.

It would also mandate that users be able to remove or hide pre-installed apps, and allow for "sideloading" – the installation of apps from outside the official store.

The legislation prohibits several practices that have drawn criticism from developers and regulators. App stores would be banned from forcing developers to use proprietary payment systems, imposing pricing parity requirements across platforms, or penalizing developers for distributing their apps elsewhere.

The bill also forbids platform owners from using nonpublic business information derived from developers' apps to compete against those developers. Furthermore, it would prevent platform owners from restricting developers' communication with users about business offers, provided user consent rules are followed.

Enforcement would be handled by the FTC and state attorneys general, with violations classified as unfair or deceptive acts under the FTC Act. Penalties could reach up to $1 million per violation. The bill would preempt conflicting state laws while preserving state-level rules on contracts, torts, and data security.

The push for this legislation comes amid a global reckoning over the power of major tech companies. In Europe, similar rules under the Digital Markets Act have already led to significant changes. Apple was fined €500 million for limiting how developers could communicate with users about sales and promotions and was ordered to remove technical and commercial barriers that hindered competition. Google has also made adjustments in response to EU regulations, such as adding a browser choice screen during device setup.

In the US, a federal judge recently ordered Apple to immediately halt practices that limit competition on its app store and maintain high commissions on app sales. A long-fought battle partially won by Fortnite-maker Epic Games.

Reactions to the App Store Freedom Act are divided. Supporters, including the Coalition for App Fairness – which represents companies like Epic Games, Spotify, and Match Group – argue that the bill is necessary to end anti-competitive practices.

Conversely, industry groups such as the Computer & Communications Industry Association warn that the legislation could undermine security and expose users to greater risks from malicious apps. They argue that platform owners need flexibility to respond to evolving threats.

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"App Store Freedom Act" would force Apple and Google to allow third-party app stores

 

[bviktor]

Yay! Can’t wait for all the malware and scams! I mean we only have like a 30 year track record with Windows and other open systems, what could possibly go wrong?!

Thank you Sweeney, you greedy billionaire, for “protecting” us from our own choices!

 

[VaRmeNsI]

Might actually consider iPhone in future if I have freedom to install what ever I want.

 

[Axeia]

Yay! Can’t wait for all the malware and scams! I mean we only have like a 30 year track record with Windows and other open systems, what could possibly go wrong?!

Thank you Sweeney, you greedy billionaire, for “protecting” us from our own choices!

Ah yes evil Sweeney takes away your choice.
No wait, you just get more choice.

They can go hand in hand just fine. You can stick to Apples app store like you always have. And those that choose to install from other stores could do so.

You could even have a US store where only apps developed by US companies are allowed to prevent your data from going to foreign countries.

Those that want an 'adult' app that goes against Apple's policies can have an adult store.

Basically a win for everyone but Apple and those that cannot keep themselves from installing untrustworthy things. From the sound of it it's only stores though and not Apps and if a store lets through many shady apps it'll reflect in their rating.

No developer is going to avoid the main store because of its way higher exposure being installed by default. The only apps you'll find elsewhere exclusively will be those that are against Apple's interests. Adult content, emulators that kind of stuff.

Tldr: you only gain options, you keep what you have and no one is forcing you to use these options.

 

[noblody]

Now every biggish games/software provider will require their store be installed first like on PC? It will be messy, but at least they'll make more money, I don't believe they'll charge less than "greedy" google/apple.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Now every biggish games/software provider will require their store be installed first like on PC? It will be messy, but at least they'll make more money, I don't believe they'll charge less than "greedy" google/apple.

Now we can install stuff apple doesn't want us to have. Like apps that can do JITC or browsers built on things other than webkit, without having to jump through apples hoops.

 

[m4a4]

Yay! Can’t wait for all the malware and scams! I mean we only have like a 30 year track record with Windows and other open systems, what could possibly go wrong?!

Thank you Sweeney, you greedy billionaire, for “protecting” us from our own choices!

Yeah! How dare we serve steak when there's an infant sitting at the table that can't chew it.
/s

 

[m4a4]

Love to see it.

The bill also forbids platform owners from using nonpublic business information derived from developers' apps to compete against those developers.

That is s a big one and a major point of contention for Apple. Nice to see a more subtle anti-competitive fix in here.

Furthermore, it would prevent platform owners from restricting developers' communication with users about business offers, provided user consent rules are followed.

This is something that should've been fixed several years ago. But at least something is being done about it in here now.

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

Sounds like a good bill to me. If you are worried about malware then simply stick to the main app store. If you have a relative that is mentally disabled or something that you worry about, well set up managed account on their phone so you can stop them from doing mentally disabled stuff with their phone.

 

[Hexic]

Yay! Can’t wait for all the malware and scams! I mean we only have like a 30 year track record with Windows and other open systems, what could possibly go wrong?!

Thank you Sweeney, you greedy billionaire, for “protecting” us from our own choices!

The ~70% of the world running Android (estimates are 3 billion ACTIVE devices) are doing just fine. You may wanna leave your walled garden and look around my friend, the water is just fine... Regardless of what Daddy Cook tells ya.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Yay! Can’t wait for all the malware and scams! I mean we only have like a 30 year track record with Windows and other open systems, what could possibly go wrong?!

Thank you Sweeney, you greedy billionaire, for “protecting” us from our own choices!

Nobody is forcing you to do it. You can just keep using the normal app store anyway.