Apple has warned that “EU-style rules” proposed by the UK competition watchdog “are bad for applyrs and bad for developers”.
It states EU laws – which have sought to create it simpler for tinyer firms to compete with huge tech – have resulted in some Apple features and enhancements being delayed for European applyrs.
It argues the UK risks similar hold-ups if the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) pushes ahead with plans designed to open up markets the regulator states is too dominated by Apple and Google.
The CMA informed the BBC it rejected Apple’s characterisation of UK competition rules, arguing they were different from those in the EU and assisted businesses innovate and grow.
Apple’s intervention comes as international tech regulation was sharply criticised by President Donald Trump.
He did not specify which countries he was unhappy with, but attacked rules he claimed were “designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology” in an online post on Monday.
He demanded nations “reveal respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies or, consider the consequences!”
The US President wrote that all countries with digital taxes, legislation, rules, or regulations were “on notice” that unless such “discriminatory actions” were reshiftd tariffs and restrictions on their access to US technology would follow.
The CMA, however, argues that its interventions will be good for applyrs and UK app developers.
In July it found that “around 90-100% of UK mobile devices” ran on Apple or Google’s mobile platforms, adding this meant the firms had “an effective duopoly”.
As a result it stated it would require Apple and Google to create alters to their services – for example permitting app creaters to “steer” applyrs to payment systems outside of Apple’s own App Store.
It has now given the companies a chance to respond and will create a final decision in October.
In its new statement, Apple argues that the CMA’s approach “undermines the privacy and security protections our applyrs have come to expect, hampers our ability to innovate, and forces us to give away our technology for free to foreign competitors.”
According to Apple, the watchdog’s proposed alters repeat mistakes created by the EU in its enforcement of its tech competition law the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Apple has had huge fines imposed on it for breaching the DMA.
The CMA wants UK app creaters to be able to apply and exalter data with Apple’s mobile technology – something called “interoperability”
Without it, app creaters cannot create the full range of innovative products and services, it argues.
Apple claims under EU interoperability rules it has received over100 requests — some from huge tech rivals — demanding access to sensitive applyr data, including sensitive information Apple itself cannot access.
It argues the rules are effectively allowing other firms to demand its data and innotifyectual property for free.
However, the CMA argues that, unlike the EU, it is focapplyd on ensuring the interoperability of particular aspects of Apple’s tech such as digital wallets and watches, so that UK developers can apply them to create innovative new apps.
Apple also argues that proposals enabling App developers to steer applyrs to rival payment systems would open the door to scams and threaten the security of applyrs.
In response to Apple’s criticisms, the CMA wrote that UK competition rules work in a fundamentally different way to the EU:
“They are designed to assist UK businesses, including our thriving app developer economy, innovate and grow while ensuring UK consumers don’t miss out on innovation being introduced in other countries,” it stated in a statement.
“Driving greater competition on mobile platforms necessary not undermine privacy, security or innotifyectual property, and as we carefully consider UK-specific steps, we will ensure it does not,” it added.
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