Republican Rep. Kat Cammack of Florida has introduced new legislation to curb the dominance of tech giants Apple and Google over mobile app distribution. The “App Store Freedom Act,” unveiled Tuesday, seeks to foster competition in the app economy by requiring the companies to open up their platforms to third-party app stores and payment systems.
The bill is backed by the Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), a group representing app developers including Epic Games, Spotify, and Match Group, that has long accused the tech giants of monopolistic practices that stifle innovation and inflate costs.
Beyond economic concerns, the App Store Freedom Act carries major political significance. It comes amid ongoing debates over Big Tech’s role in shaping public discourse. In January 2021 both Apple and Google removed Parler, a social media platform that positioned itself as a free speech alternative to Twitter and Meta, from their app stores following January 6. Amazon simultaneously shut down its web hosting, effectively taking the platform offline.
To critics, this coordinated action by dominant tech firms was not just a moderation decision—it was seen as a politically motivated purge, reinforcing concerns that a handful of private companies wield unchecked power over which voices can be heard online. The removal of Parler became a watershed moment in the argument for decentralizing tech power and protecting digital pluralism.
“At its core, this bill seeks to promote a competitive marketplace for consumers and developers,” Cammack said in a statement. “U.S. mobile users deserve the freedom to choose the apps, platforms, and payment methods that are best for them.”
The legislation mandates several sweeping changes to the mobile app ecosystem:
- Open App Ecosystems: Apple and Google would be required to allow users to download apps from third-party stores, not just their official app stores (App Store and Google Play).
- Default App Options: Users must be allowed to set non-native apps and app stores as their default choices on their devices.
- Removal of Pre-Installed Apps: Users would gain the right to delete pre-installed apps, including native app stores, from their devices.
- Equal Access for Developers: Tech platforms must provide independent developers with the same tools, access, and functionality that they offer to their preferred partners — and do so at no additional cost.
- Payment Freedom: Developers would no longer be forced to use Apple’s or Google’s in-house payment systems, a policy that has drawn fire for its high commission fees and alleged anti-competitive effects.
Apple, in particular, has been accused of self-preferencing its own apps and services while taking up to 30% commission from third-party developers.
Cammack’s bill comes amid intensifying legal and political scrutiny of Big Tech’s influence. In April, a federal court found Apple in contempt over its conduct in the Epic Games case — a landmark legal battle that highlighted the restrictive practices of Apple’s App Store.
“This legislation is a direct response to the kind of gatekeeping that has long plagued developers and limited consumer choice,” said Gene Burrus, global policy counsel for CAF. “We applaud Congresswoman Cammack for introducing a bill that takes meaningful steps to restore fairness to the mobile app marketplace.”
If passed, Cammack’s legislation could represent a significant shift in how mobile platforms operate in the U.S., giving developers more autonomy and potentially lowering costs for consumers.
“We must continue to hold Big Tech accountable and promote competition that allows all players to enter the field,” Cammack said.
The bill is expected to face intense lobbying from Apple and Google, but also growing bipartisan interest in breaking up Big Tech’s control over the digital economy.
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