Bill to force Apple to allow third-party app stores emerges
In the United States, a bill has been introduced that would force major app store operators like Apple to allow third-party app stores. The purpose is to correct companies like Apple that do not allow third-party app stores and promote competition.
Rep. Cammack Introduces App Store Freedom Act To Promote Competition & Protect Consumers | Representative Kat Cammack
A new bill would force Apple to allow third-party app stores | The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/news/662180/app-store-freedom-act-apple-third-party-app-stores
On May 6, 2025, the App Store Freedom Act (PDF file) was introduced, a bill aimed at prohibiting anticompetitive behavior by dominant app store operators , promoting competition in the mobile app market, and protecting consumers and developers.
The bill would allow large app store operators, those with more than 100 million users in the United States, to set third-party app stores as the default, allow the installation of apps from third-party app stores, and allow users to remove or hide pre-installed apps.
Although Apple is not named in the bill, it would be covered by the bill because it has over 100 million users in the US and does not allow apps to be installed from third-party app stores. Google is also a target.
In addition to the above, the rules also require companies to provide developers with access to interfaces, features and development tools without cost or discrimination, and prohibit app store operators from disallowing proprietary payment systems or mandating uniform pricing.
The payment system issue is likely due to the lawsuit between Apple and Epic Games in the U.S. In this lawsuit, Apple's actions were criticized, and it was recently ordered to allow app developers to use their own payment systems.
'At its core, this bill is about promoting a competitive marketplace for consumers and developers. We should be able to choose the apps and payments we want without paying unnecessary penalties to the major platforms,' said Rep. Kat Cammack, a Republican who introduced the bill.
The bill provides for fines from the Federal Trade Commission for any violations, with additional penalties of up to $1 million per violation.
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