A new lobbying group formed by Meta, Spotify, and Match Group is challenging Apple and Google’s role in the mobile app ecosystem, arguing the company should bear legal responsibility for verifying users’ ages and accusing them of anti-competitive business practices that disadvantage developers, Bloomberg reports.
The “Coalition for a Competitive Mobile Experience” is a coordinated effort by these major companies to influence federal and state legislation amid mounting pressure to implement digital safeguards for minors. The coalition intends to lobby lawmakers, engage with federal regulators, and support ongoing antitrust enforcement actions against Apple and Google.
The group’s immediate concern is a growing legislative push to require age verification for users downloading mobile apps that may be unsuitable for minors. A law enacted in Utah in March requires app stores to verify a user’s age and obtain parental consent before allowing minors to download certain applications. Additional proposals are reportedly being drafted at the federal level.
Read more at MacRumors.com