Bipartisan Senate Trio Bows App Store Competition Bill

Legislation introduced Wednesday is meant to increase competition with Google and Apple app stores. Introduced by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., the Open App Markets Act will “open the app economy to new competitors, and give mobile users more control over their own devices,” said Blumenthal. The bill would protect “developers’ rights to tell consumers about lower prices and offer competitive pricing,” plus app sideloading options for consumers. It would “prevent app stores from disadvantaging developers” and “set safeguards to continue to protect privacy, security, and safety of consumers,” said the announcement. The bill addresses competition harms and “ensures fairness to users and developers without forcing compromises on security or privacy,” wrote Public Knowledge Legal Director John Bergmayer. PK noted the legislation is in line with recommendations from its recent white paper.