UK regulator seeks special status for Apple and Google that could mandate changes for Big Tech

London – The antitrust guard dog of Great Britain proposed to label the mobile ecosystems of Google and Apple to “strategic market status”, which would oblige changes in large technological companies to improve competition.

The announcement of competition and the authority markets on Wednesday follows separate surveys that it opened at the start of the year in IOS Android and Apple in Google, using newly acquired digital market regulations designed to protect consumers and businesses against unfair practices by large technological companies.

The watchdog said that Apple and Google have an “effective duopoly”, with 90 to 100% of mobile devices in Britain operating on one or the other mobile platform. Its survey has revealed a range of concerns affecting businesses and consumers such as opinions on unpredictable applications, rankings and research commissions in an incoherent App Store store on integrated purchases up to 30%.

The CMA has also unveiled separate “roadmaps” for each company describing possible measures to improve competition, including “fair and transparent” application assessments and application store rankings to give British “certainty” developers.

Google called Watchdog’s decision “disappointing and unjustified”, and said that Android had saved application developers because they did not have to adapt to different operating models for each smartphone.

It is “crucial that any new regulation is based on evidence, proportional and does not become an obstacle to growth in the United Kingdom,” said the main competition director of the company, Oliver Bethell.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request from the Associated Press to comment early Wednesday Wednesday.

The regulator requests comments on its proposal and has until October 22 to make a final decision.