UK Grants Strategic Market Status to Apple Google Mobile Platforms

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority has designated Apple and Google’s mobile platforms as having “strategic market status” after an extensive investigation, finding they hold substantial, entrenched market power across UK smartphones (around 90%+ market share). The SMS designation covers operating systems, app distribution, mobile browsers and browser engines (including iOS, Android, the App Store, Google Play, Chrome and Blink) and gives the CMA powers to impose bespoke, pro‑competition rules under the UK’s new digital markets regime. The regulator said the platforms’ rules may be limiting innovation and competition and that it will consider proportionate, targeted interventions to open markets for businesses and consumers, while stressing the designation is not itself a finding of wrongdoing. Google called the decision “disappointing, disproportionate and unwarranted” and warned of uncertain new rules; Apple said EU‑style requirements could weaken privacy, security and user experience. The step follows earlier uses of the CMA’s new powers (including a prior SMS designation for Google Search) and aligns the UK with other jurisdictions tightening oversight of Big Tech.