- Aug 17, 2017
- 1,610
Months after its contents were shared with the White House, the NTIA this week published the "Competition in the Mobile Application Ecosystem" report – the first such report into Apple's ecosystem by a federal organization. On the basis of the investigation's findings, the report recommends:
- Third-party app stores should be permitted and users should not be prevented from sideloading apps outside a gatekeeper's own app store. Legislative and regulatory measures should prohibit restrictions on sideloading, alternative app stores, and web apps.
- Requirements that ban developers from using alternative in-app payment systems should be banned.
- Third-party web browser apps should be able to offer full functionality and not face browser engine restrictions.
- Pre-installed apps, default options, and anticompetitive self-preferencing should be limited, including in search results.
- Users should be able to choose their own apps as defaults and delete or hide pre-installed apps.
- App store review processes should be more transparent.

Biden Administration Report Recommends Sweeping Changes to Apple's Ecosystem
A report commissioned by the Biden administration this week recommended new legislation to make major changes to Apple's platform restrictions...
