UK probe finds Apple-Google mobile browser control stifles innovation

A UK competition authority investigation has concluded that Apple and Google’s control over mobile browsers is restricting innovation and economic growth. The findings highlight anti-competitive policies that limit consumer choice, hinder business opportunities, and reduce incentives for rival browser developers to innovate.

Apple and Google’s Grip on Mobile Browsers

The 611-page final report, published on Wednesday, focuses primarily on Apple's restrictive policies within iOS, as well as Google's controversial revenue-sharing agreement with Apple.

Apple’s Restrictions on Mobile Browsers

The investigation raised multiple concerns over Apple’s control of mobile browsing, citing several ways in which the company’s policies suppress competition:

• Mandatory Use of WebKit – Apple forces all third-party browsers on iOS to use its WebKit engine, preventing companies from offering unique features or performance enhancements.
• Safari’s Preferential Access – Apple grants Safari exclusive or earlier access to certain iOS features, which gives it an unfair advantage over competing browsers. This includes privacy features that Apple markets as a selling point for Safari.
• Limits on Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) – Apple's constraining approach to PWAs on iOS restricts their ability to function like full-fledged apps, pushing developers toward the App Store instead.
• In-Browsing Restrictions – Rival browsers face limitations when trying to open external links within apps, making it harder for them to gain traction among users.

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Google’s Revenue-Sharing Deals with Apple

The investigation also criticized Google’s agreement with Apple, which sees Google paying Apple a significant share of search ad revenue generated through Safari and Chrome on iOS. This arrangement:

• Reduces the incentive for Apple to compete with Google in the search and browser markets.
• Strengthens Google’s dominance, as it effectively secures preferential treatment within Safari.
• Disincentivizes innovation, as Apple benefits financially from keeping Google’s search engine as the default option.

The report states that this revenue-sharing deal is so substantial that it "significantly limits the financial incentive to compete."

Despite these findings, the UK regulator has not taken direct enforcement action. Instead, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is waiting for new antitrust powers under the UK's Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act (DMCC), which came into effect in January 2025.

The CMA is currently conducting a Strategic Market Status (SMS) investigation into Apple and Google, which will determine whether they qualify as digital gatekeepers under the new law. If they do, the CMA will have the authority to impose specific obligations and restrictions on their operations.

The CMA has ruled out using its standard market investigation powers for now, stating that this approach would carry “significant risks to effectiveness.” Instead, it is recommending enforcement through the DMCC’s stricter regulatory framework, which is designed specifically for overseeing dominant digital platforms.

Potential Remedies for Apple and Google’s Dominance

While no enforcement action is being taken immediately, the report outlines potential regulatory interventions that could be imposed if the CMA's SMS investigation confirms Apple and Google’s market dominance. These include:

• Allowing Alternative Browser Engines – Apple would be required to lift its WebKit restriction, allowing competing browsers to use their own rendering engines on iOS.
• Ensuring Equal Access to iOS Features – Third-party browsers would gain the same level of access to platform capabilities as Safari, including privacy and security features.
• Ending Google’s Revenue-Sharing Agreement with Apple – The CMA could ban or restrict these payments to reduce Google’s hold over mobile search and encourage competition.
• Regulating Default Browser Choice Screens – The way browsers are presented to users on Android and iOS could be standardized or made more transparent to promote consumer choice.

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Apple and Google Respond

Apple disputed the findings, arguing that the proposed remedies could compromise security, privacy, and the user experience. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple stated:

"Apple believes in thriving and dynamic markets where innovation can flourish. We face competition in every segment and jurisdiction where we operate, and our focus is always the trust of our users. We have concerns with this report and believe the remedies it discusses would undermine privacy, security, and the overall user experience. We will continue to engage constructively with the CMA to best address their concerns."

Google has not yet publicly responded to the final report.