(Bloomberg) -- The UK’s antitrust regulator closed its probe into app stores run by Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Apple Inc. ahead of the implementation of new laws, which give it more power to rein in the dominance of a handful of major tech firms.
The Competition and Markets Authority said Wednesday that its early work once the new digital markets rules are in place is expected to focus on app stores. Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store had been subject of a dominance investigation.
The UK’s digital markets regime will give the CMA broader powers to levy large fines for rule breaking. The UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill is set to come into force this fall.
Unlike the EU’s one-size-fits all approach, it will give watchdogs the power to probe specific activities of individual companies designated as having “strategic market status.”
Companies drawn under this scope must have entrenched digital market power in the UK, a position of strategic significance, and a global revenue of more than £25 billion or UK sales of more than £1 billion. The draft regulation imposes fines of up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue.
“It’s critical that tech businesses in the UK, including app developers, can have access to a fair and competitive app ecosystem, helping to grow the sector, boost investment and result in better outcomes for UK consumers,” said Will Hayter, executive director for Digital Markets at the CMA.
Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for a comment.
“Android has always allowed flexibility and choice not found on other platforms - including multiple app stores and sideloading, and we deliver persistent and growing value to developers,” Google said.
(Updates with Google comment in the final paragraph)
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