Apple has issued a strong warning to Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), claiming that the CMA’s analysis of the company’s dominance in the mobile browser market is “flawed and insufficient.” The tech giant argues that the CMA is relying on outdated information and unsubstantiated claims from developers, rather than objective evidence, in its ongoing investigation.
The CMA is currently examining the supply of mobile browsers and browser engines, as well as the distribution of cloud gaming services through app stores on mobile devices in the UK. Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome are the leading mobile browsers, with iOS requiring all browsers to be built on Apple’s WebKit engine. In a June update, the CMA suggested that the WebKit requirement likely diminishes Apple’s incentives to enhance the engine, while also noting that browser vendors incur additional costs when developing and supporting a WebKit-based version of their browsers. Apple strongly disagrees with these findings, asserting that the WebKit restriction is vital for maintaining the security, privacy, and performance of iOS devices. The company highlighted that poor user experiences could negatively impact its core business, given that nearly 80% of its revenue comes from device sales.
Apple criticized the CMA for relying on information that is two or more years old, labeling it as outdated. The company also expressed concerns about the CMA’s apparent lack of impartiality and objectivity, pointing out that it had not been allowed to comment on some claims in the report. Apple cautioned that the CMA’s flawed analysis could result in findings and remedies that would harm consumers, developers, and competition overall. The company urged the CMA to reconsider its approach and the potential implications of its investigation.
The CMA’s inquiry into the dominance of Apple and Google in mobile browsers, which began in 2022, has faced legal challenges. Apple initially succeeded in temporarily suspending the investigation by arguing that the CMA lacked the authority to initiate it, but this decision was later overturned by the Court of Appeal in London. As the investigation progresses, the CMA maintains that its working papers do not contain finalized analysis or decisions and insists that it evaluates all evidence transparently and objectively. This conflict between Apple and the CMA underscores the ongoing tensions between major tech companies and regulatory bodies as governments worldwide address competition and market dominance issues in the digital era.
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