Britain joins US, Europe and Japan in declaring Apple and Google smartphone dominance: What this means for tech giants and their response

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that it has designated
and
as holding “strategic market status” in the smartphone sector. This move means that the regulator will now have ‘more powers’ to demand specific changes aimed at boosting competition and innovation.
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According to a report by news agency Reuters, the CMA stated that Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms are used by millions of businesses and consumers, but current rules—such as restrictions within their app stores—may be “limiting innovation and competition.”
The regulator further emphasised that this action aligns with steps being taken by the US, the European Union (EU), and Japan against the two tech giants.
The CMA clarified that the designation is not a finding of wrongdoing and does not introduce immediate requirements. Instead, it will now consider “proportionate, targeted interventions” to ensure the platforms are open to effective competition.
Google and Apple respond to new designation
Google, which received its first strategic market status designation earlier this month for its search operations, called the decision “disappointing, disproportionate and unwarranted.”
Oliver Bethell, Google’s senior competition director, stated in a blog post, “The CMA’s next steps will be crucial if the UK’s digital markets regime is to meet its promise of being pro-growth and pro-innovation.”
Meanwhile, Apple responded by saying it “worked tirelessly” to create the best products and user experience. The company urged the UK not to follow the EU’s example of intervention, which it claimed had left users with weaker privacy and security, and delayed access to new features.
“We’ve seen the impact of regulation on Apple users in the EU, and we urge the UK not to follow the same path,” Apple stated.