10 February 2026
Responding the Competition and Markets Authority’s announcement that it is seeking views on commitments from Apple and Google to deliver improvements to the way UK developers publish apps and how they access Apple’s tools, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said: “It is very disappointing that the Competition Markets Authority has chosen not to use the toolkit created for them by Parliament, with cross-party support, under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. Given the highly dubious track record of these tech giants, we would question whether these voluntary commitments are really worth the paper they are printed on.
“Although the thrust of the commitments from Apple and Google are welcome, the failure to propose robust, legally enforceable conduct requirements – which would kick in if the firms fail to comply – will inevitably further delay the urgently needed improvements for app developers and consumers.
“Government must give the CMA its unequivocal support and the resources it needs to go much further and faster to deliver the regime as Parliament intended. The regulator must now accelerate its work on other interventions and conduct requirements – especially on steering – to ensure a fair, competitive, and healthy mobile ecosystem supporting domestic growth and British consumers. Further delays risk undermining the will of Parliament the intent of the new regime.”