Siri, where are you? Congress could force Apple to drop built-in iPhone apps

(Image credit: Future)

If proposed antitrust reform legislation passes in the United States, then Apple might exist forced to sell iPhones and other devices without its own born apps installed. That'due south according to Representative David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who is among the lawmakers pushing for reforms amongst tech giants.

Both Democrats and Republicans alike in the U.S. House of Representatives proposed antitrust laws last week. In this case, the proposed constabulary would farther restrict the power for tech companies to give themselves any advantages over third-political party companies — such equally having their ain software pre-installed on their devices, rather than similar software made by other companies. Cicilline specifically chosen out Apple as an example.

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"It would be equally easy to download the other five apps as the Apple tree one and so they're not using their marketplace dominance to favor their own products and services," Cicilline told reporters Wednesday, per Bloomberg.

Cicilline also mentioned Amazon's Prime membership service as an example of a technology house giving itself benefits at the expense of competing firms. According to Bloomberg, Cicilline believes that Prime number "disadvantages" third-party companies that sell through Amazon, simply are not covered by Prime member benefits (such equally gratuitous, expedited shipping).

The proposed legislation provides multiple benchmarks that companies must hitting to be eligible for such restrictions, such every bit having 50 million monthly agile users (MAU) in the The states and a full marketplace capitalization of at least $600 one thousand thousand. Amazon'southward market cap sits above $1.7 trillion, as of this writing, with Apple tree just above $2.1 trillion.

5 total antitrust reform bills were introduced last week, and will be debated and amended starting side by side calendar week. In their initial state, at to the lowest degree, the proposed laws collectively have potential to bring dramatic changes to the tech manufacture if passed. One proposed bill would make it more difficult for tech giants to acquire other companies, forcing firms to prove that such moves would not negatively impact competitors.

Another Business firm bill, called the Ending Platform Monopolies Act, would prevent tech giants from offering its ain services or products through its ain devices and platforms. As a upshot, for example, Apple tree would be unable to offer Apple Music, Amazon would take to stop selling AmazonBasics items and Google would exist restricted from offering certain search-based services.

Apple, Amazon and Google are no strangers to antitrust complaints, given their respective and sprawling engineering science businesses. But recently, Apple has faced an antitrust case from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission regarding its control over the iOS App Store, and is reportedly facing scrutiny from the U.Southward. Department of Justice over its "Sign In With Apple" feature.

Amazon, meanwhile, was hitting with an antitrust lawsuit concluding month by the Washington D.C. Attorney Full general over claims that information technology stifles competition on its ain marketplace. Last October, 11 states joined the U.South. Section of Justice in suing Google over complaints that it holds an illegal monopoly over search services and search advertising.

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Andrew Hayward is a writer and editor based in Chicago. His work covering tech, crypto, games, and esports has appeared in more than than 100 publications effectually the world, including Polygon, Rolling Stone, Decrypt, and Stuff. He has covered cryptocurrency extensively since 2019, including coins, crypto games, and NFTs, and interviewed many creators and prominent figures in the space. He has also personally invested in several coins and currently holds less than one BTC, 2 ETH, and 700 ADA, along with smaller amounts of other coins.