TL; PhD
- A Senate bill to open the application market will force Apple and Google to relax their application store policies.
- They must allow side loading, third-party payment systems, and changing application defaults.
- It can also prevent Apple and Google from abusing their power to support their own applications.
If you are frustrated with restrictive mobile app stores, Congress may help.A bipartisan group of senators introduce A bill, the Open App Market Act, will force Apple, Google and other companies to remove key restrictions on portals such as the App Store and Play Store.
The bill will require app store operators to allow apps to be loaded and installed in other ways outside of the official market. They must also allow third-party application payment systems, let you set third-party applications as default, and hide or delete applications installed by partners such as market owners or operators.
The measure will also prevent Apple and Google from claiming an unfair advantage. They cannot prioritize their application libraries in store search results, retain the best features for their applications, or abuse sensitive developer information to give themselves an advantage.
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If a particular practice is necessary to maintain privacy, security, or security, there will be exceptions. The bill will also allow app stores to take measures to prevent fraud or spam, as well as any measures necessary to comply with federal or state laws.
Senators Richard Blumenthal, Marsha Blackburn, and Amy Klobuchar believe that the App Store Act will remove the “mandatory anti-competitive wall”, while helping users and improving opportunities for small app developers.
We have consulted Apple and Google for comments. However, historically, neither is willing to loosen control of their respective markets. For example, Apple has long believed that its strict control of iOS (including the lack of sideloading) is the key to strong security. However, Google is not immune.When Google pulls Fortress night In the Play Store, it claims that banning third-party in-app purchase systems can ensure user “safety” while providing a level playing field for developers. The bill will force the two companies to fundamentally modify their policies, not to mention limiting the revenue they receive from app store fees.
Not surprisingly, critics of app store policy consider the bill to be the key to achieving its goals.Applied Fairness Alliance, which includes Fort night The creators Epic Games and Spotify, Deezer, and ProtonMail claim that the proposed law will provide more options in the application area and “inspire innovation.”
It may only be a matter of time before you have more control over the applications on your phone.
In addition to future Senate votes, the bill may face some obstacles. There is no similar bill in the House of Representatives. Before the Open App Market bill reaches President Biden’s desk, the two parties in Congress need to coordinate their legislation. Although Congress is likely to reach an agreement, there is no guarantee that the bill will exist as it is. There is also the issue of lobbying.Proponents of app store reform worry that lobbyists might stifle similar bills In Arizona And in North Dakota, it wouldn’t be shocking if lobbyists from tech giants tried to sabotage a federal-level proposal.
However, the bill may be more convincing than those state-level bills. The support of the two parties implies strong overall support. The Biden administration has always supported the supervision of large technology companies such as Apple and Google. If the bill gets a vote, it may only be a matter of time before you have more control over the apps on your phone.