US Lawmakers Target App Store Practices With Two Bills

Two bills have been introduced in the US House of Representatives targeting major mobile app store operators like Apple and Google. The App Store Freedom Act would require these companies to allow third-party app stores, enable users to set them as default, permit sideloading, ban forced proprietary payment systems, restrict anti-competitive practices, and prohibit use of nonpublic developer data to compete. Enforcement would come from the FTC and state attorneys general, with civil penalties up to $1 million per violation. Following the EU's Digital Markets Act, this legislation seeks to enhance competition and consumer choice. Separately, the App Store Accountability Act would mandate age verification, group users by age, and require parental consent for minors, sparking privacy concerns. Both bills reflect growing US legislative focus on regulating app store practices and protecting users.