UK Seemingly Abandons Plans to Regulate Apple and Other Big Tech Companies

[MacRumors]

The UK is set to abandon plans to heavily regulate Apple and other big tech companies using a new competition authority, the Financial Times reports.

In a paywalled report, the Financial Times claims that the British government's new legislative agenda, due to be set out in the Queen's Speech next week, will not include a bill to empower the Digital Markets Unit (DMU). The government announced plans to set up the DMU in 2020, stating that it would grant powers to the body to create a code of conduct that big tech companies have to abide by in the UK or face fines of up to 10 percent of annual turnover. An interim report published by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) earlier this year was intended to focus the DMU's attention, and it was met with an aggressive response from Apple.

While the DMU currently exists with around 60 members of staff, it has no powers beyond the CMA's existing capabilities. The DMU is currently working on a number of investigations, including into the terms of Apple's App Store and Apple and Google's "duopoly" over mobile ecosystems.

Julian Knight, Conservative chair of the House of Commons' Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said if legislation to empower the tech regulator was not included in the Queen's Speech, it would "damage the credibility of the whole enterprise... It would be a hammer blow to the capability of the UK to regulate these sectors."

The government's decision to step back from further regulating big tech is reportedly due to the decision to drop corporate reforms and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's desire to step away from state intervention in the economy.

A statement from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to the Financial Times suggested that powers to "change the conduct of the most powerful tech firms and protect businesses and consumers" are still on the way, but it "could not comment on timelines for potential future legislation."

Apple's ecosystem is increasingly coming under intense scrutiny by governments around the world, including in the United States, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and more, with a clear appetite from global regulators to explore requirements around app store policies, app sideloading, and interoperability.

Article Link: UK Seemingly Abandons Plans to Regulate Apple and Other Big Tech Companies

 

[markfc]

A brexit benefit at last!

 

[Glideslope]

Here's to all the Dreamers out there that still think they have a say in their respective governing bodies.

"He who has the Gold Makes the Rules."

The assimilation continues........

 

[scheinderrob]

hopefully the EU will strike down apple

 

[KPOM]

Maybe Boris Johnson will start taking advantage of Brexit to make the UK more attractive to outside investment.

 

[mrat93]

F it…. I’m just gonna start paying $100/year for official Apple sideloading — er, I mean — a “Developer” account. Because let’s be real… Apple technically allows sideloading — you just need to pay for it. Seriously, I think if Apple did away with the paid Dev account tier, we wouldn’t be having this argument.

I will live in my own sideloading bubble with no issues while people here duke it out about whether or not sideloading will be the beginning of World War 3.

I wasn’t stoked about the UK forcing it legally, but I thought it looked promising.

 

[BootsWalking]

This is inconsequential since the EU will be driving reforms. Apple will likely adopt those across all of Europe. For example, it would be silly if Apple allowed third-party app stores and NFC in all of the EU but not the UK.

 

[SD449]

Maybe Apple threatened to activate and use the CSAM system to scan Parliaments devices for Tractors…

 

[ducknalddon]

A brexit benefit at last!

Only for Apple.

One of the criticisms of Brexit was a weakening of consumer protections. This and other decisions indicate that cricisim was correct.

 

[cocky jeremy]

This is inconsequential since the EU will be driving reforms. Apple will likely adopt those across all of Europe. For example, it would be silly if Apple allowed third-party app stores and NFC in all of the EU but not the UK.

Just do away with NFC in the EU. Let them screw themselves and they'll eventually shut up with this ridiculous BS.

 

[ducknalddon]

This is inconsequential since the EU will be driving reforms. Apple will likely adopt those across all of Europe. For example, it would be silly if Apple allowed third-party app stores and NFC in all of the EU but not the UK.

Why would it do that? It's not in their interest.

 

[cmcbhi]

F it…. I’m just gonna start paying $100/year for official Apple sideloading — er, I mean — a “Developer” account. Because let’s be real… Apple technically allows sideloading — you just need to pay for it. Seriously, I think if Apple did away with the paid Dev account tier, we wouldn’t be having this argument.

I will live in my own sideloading bubble with no issues while people here duke it out about whether or not sideloading will be the beginning of World War 3.

I wasn’t stoked about the UK forcing it legally, but I thought it looked promising.

You know, this might be something to use.
possibly, Apple could have a free "developer" account that allowed side loading of virus and stuff and a regulated App Store for those of us concerned about security. Apps loaded through the "Developer Account App could allow unlimited tracking and such and the regular App Store could be kept safe.
Also, the wide open NFC from the "Developer" App Store could broadcast data all around for "convenience" but the Apple Wallet from the real App Store could be set for safety.

 

[kc9hzn]

It’s a bit off topic, but the bit about Boris Johnson desiring to move away from state intervention in the economy got me musing about the differences in philosophy between the US and the UK. About the only example of a nationalized industry I can think of in the US is long distance passenger rail service in the form of Amtrak. When it comes to “shoring up” sectors of the economy, the US usually prefers low cost loans, maintaining quasi-private status but with the US government as guarantor (ie Freddie Mac), government granted monopolies (like AT&T before the 1980s), or tariffs. (And Amtrak can probably be viewed as a weird Nixon era aberration, just another example of Nixon’s odd “vaguely left of center, but dear goodness don’t call it communism or socialism” tendencies when it came to the economy.) And the US far more rarely engages in peacetime rationing (the 1970s oil crisis is the example I’m most familiar with). Some states and municipalities have, in effect, “nationalized” some firms (most notably, public transportation providers), but that is rare, too. The UK, however, is far more willing to nationalize industries, and post-WW2 rationing continued on some products (even basic commodities as paper) into the 1950s. Oh sure, the instance in the article is “just” regulation, something we in the US are no strangers to, but the phrase still caused me to reflect on the differences in political philosophy when it comes to the economy.

 

[siddavis]

Here's to all the Dreamers out there that still think they have a say in their respective governing bodies.

"He who has the Gold Makes the Rules."

The assimilation continues........

Here's to all the people who think they need a centralized power to make all their decisions for them.

The assimilation continues........

 

[yellowbunny]

Hopefully this means my downstreaming of files from the safest internet in the world will be even faster and safer (what an embarrassing country to live in)...

 

[wordsworth]

The British Government is undoubtedly good at getting rid of useful regulation – and in keeping regulation and its oversight as 'light-touch' and weak as possible 'in the interests of competition', such as those for fire protection standards in our buildings, and with fatal consequences, as per the appalling Grenfell Tower tragedy. Any regulating of tech companies imposed by the government would almost certainly have been profoundly half-arsed, badly thought out and badly drafted, with way too many unintended negative effects, thus likely causing more misery than happiness to consumers.

 

[koil]

A brexit benefit at last!

Benefit to who? Apple? Great job! 😂

F it…. I’m just gonna start paying $100/year for official Apple sideloading — er, I mean — a “Developer” account. Because let’s be real… Apple technically allows sideloading — you just need to pay for it. Seriously, I think if Apple did away with the paid Dev account tier, we wouldn’t be having this argument.

I will live in my own sideloading bubble with no issues while people here duke it out about whether or not sideloading will be the beginning of World War 3.

I wasn’t stoked about the UK forcing it legally, but I thought it looked promising.

Owners shouldn't have to pay a subscription fee for the privilege of being allowed to have a crappy experience manually signing apps for themselves to install.

 

[RedTheReader]

Apple could have a free "developer" account that allowed side loading of virus and stuff and a regulated App Store for those of us concerned about security.

Look, I know people will continue to disagree about sideloading (ie, installing software from wherever you want), but is it really necessary to continue these virus claims? Do I unknowingly get viruses when I install programs on my MacBook? Almost none of those are form the Mac App Store, after all.

Just do away with NFC in the EU.

You know, we see a lot of people seriously recommend that Apple pulls out of these countries (and a lot of people making fun of them) which is ridiculous, of course, but is turning off NFC not a more plausible solution? Is that something they could get away with?

Why would it do that? It's not in their interest.

Only if they're forced, of course. At that point, they do it so that they can continue to operate in the continent, which is in their interest.

 

[incoherent_1]

This is inconsequential since the EU will be driving reforms. Apple will likely adopt those across all of Europe. For example, it would be silly if Apple allowed third-party app stores and NFC in all of the EU but not the UK.

Apple has differentiated product lines across many countries to comply with local laws and regulations. They even include a charger in the box in some. That didn’t force their hand to implement the same policies everywhere, however.

 

[Roadster Lewis]

The government seem to have done something sensible at last. Unfortunately we are so small and inconsequential in the global scheme of things that it won’t affect what Apple has to change…

 

[rpmurray]

I've always wondered if fines like the EU proposed 10% of global revenue are legal. I can see them making a case for the revenue from EU countries but not this business of thinking they have any rights to any part of revenue deriving from other countries.

 

[ksec]

and it was met with an aggressive response from Apple.

This is what you get when Apple threatens to leave the country.

 

[I7guy]

This is what you get when Apple threatens to leave the country.

So threats do work.

 

[mrat93]

You know, this might be something to use.
possibly, Apple could have a free "developer" account that allowed side loading of virus and stuff and a regulated App Store for those of us concerned about security. Apps loaded through the "Developer Account App could allow unlimited tracking and such and the regular App Store could be kept safe.
Also, the wide open NFC from the "Developer" App Store could broadcast data all around for "convenience" but the Apple Wallet from the real App Store could be set for safety.

I can’t tell if this is elaborate satire making fun of sideloading opponents, or if you’re actually serious.

If it’s the former, bravo.

If it’s the latter, lol.

To give you a serious response, Apple DOES offer a free tier which allows sideloading!!! It’s annoying and complicated and requires a manual re-authorization every 7 days, but it works, and it’s real, and it has existed since 2008!

Like many sideloading opponents, you’re making it seem as if sideloaded apps can break through Apple’s security like it’s a standalone jailbreak.

Surely you don’t have to use Windows, Mac, and Android ever, right? I feel like anybody making your arguments above use iOS exclusively. Official sideloading would still be more restricted — and more secure — than all of the above.

 

[mrat93]

Owners shouldn't have to pay a subscription fee for the privilege of being allowed to have a crappy experience manually signing apps for themselves to install.

Oh dude, trust me, I know. I get HEATED on these posts. My point is that — me personally — I’m done with waiting and hoping for it to happen.

It’s exhausting, every few months or so, where Apple or Tim or somebody associated puts out some long roundabout BS reason to not allow sideloading. The US dropped plans to push Apple on this, and now the UK. I honestly don’t think it’ll happen at this point.