U.K. CMA says Apple, Google ‘holding back’ mobile browsers

The independent inquiry group leading the Competition and Markets Authority’s mobile browsers and cloud gaming market investigation has published its final report, with the report finding that a number of markets relating to mobile browsers are not working well for consumers and businesses, which is holding back innovation and could be limiting growth in the UK. Most concerns identified relate to Apple’s (AAPL) policies that determine how mobile browsers, the way we access the web on mobiles, work on Apple’s devices. Having assessed the feedback to the provisional decision report, published in November 2024, the inquiry group has confirmed its concerns in all but two areas relating to mobile browsers. Those two areas concern specific aspects of Apple and Google’s (GOOGL) choice architecture practices, which were resolved after Apple released a software update in December making changes to how users can switch their default browser, and Google provided new evidence relating to its use of prompts to encourage users to set Chrome as their default browser on Android. The group has also maintained its conclusion in relation to cloud gaming that no further action is necessary. The final report recommends that, if Apple and/or Google are designated with SMS, then the CMA should consider imposing appropriate interventions. These include measures which could enhance the ability of other browsers to compete by offering new, innovative features to consumers, as well as enabling users actively to choose their preferred mobile browser which could drive competition. Margot Daly, Chair of the CMA’s independent inquiry group, said: “Following our in-depth investigation, we have concluded that competition between different mobile browsers is not working well, and this is holding back innovation in the UK.”