UK's Competition Authority scolds Apple for its browser policies

13 March 2025
A new investigation will decide whether any legally binding changes should be made.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • 70d
  • 4 hours ago

Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025Seriously?? On my iPhone, I use Orion browser instead of Sa... moreStart reading.

    Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025Its not about creating options, its about Google paying cor... moreThat, I do not know. I just explained what's the usual rationale behind these decisions, and was also responding to the OP's argument that Britain should just create their own technology.

      Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025The UK are not talking only iOS or Android. They are basica... moreexcept mozilla already has a working gecko port to ios that they cant publish on the app store, and unix isnt the holdback here

        Well world is far behind than just Chrome or Safari its good to have options and choices to not benefit just major players and discourage and dishonor minir players.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • CbD
          • 14 Mar 2025

          "scolds"...why are competition body toothless?. Just look at contracts, if there is any clause that restricts competition, put a fine from the date of contract multiplied by phones sold. Dont listen to lawyer garbage arguing in a courtroom for years.

            I am UNABLE even to see videos that work in Firefox on a Mac or an iPad. They are there but load and show in negative, as do everybody's icons/avatars etc on social media.
            If I use Safari instead (which until this began I never did), everything goes back to normal.
            Is it Apple or is it my ISP? I ask myself. Chances are it is Apple, but anyway somebody is crippling the useability of Firefox here on Apple machines.
            And, at this time you cannot get the Bluesky app from the App store, and, if you already have it, it refuses to work on Macs if you do not already have it. Weird or what?

              I like countries shitting on Apple as much I do like the other guy but its going like this:

              Apple: breathing
              UK: shut up

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • y26
                • 14 Mar 2025

                Altius, 14 Mar 2025It's not about creating British technology, it's ... moreIts not about creating options, its about Google paying corrupt courts to go after their competition.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • y26
                  • 14 Mar 2025

                  Whatevs, 14 Mar 2025"....holding back innovation in the UK..." UK sho... moreFR. I wish Apple would completely pull out of there instead of caving to them. Give me back my lightning cable!

                    Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025The UK are not talking only iOS or Android. They are basica... moreWhere's your source for that? The WebKit-only rule is imposed by Apple in their guidelines [1], in fact, they recently were forced to allow alternate browser engines [2] and Chrome and Firefox are reportedly working on Blink and Gecko based versions for iOS [3]. How do you explain that?

                    [1] https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#software-requirements
                    [2] https://developer.apple.com/support/alternative-browser-engines/
                    [3] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/07/mozilla_google_apple_webkit/

                      Whatevs, 14 Mar 2025"....holding back innovation in the UK..." UK sho... moreI'm from the UK, I know that every time we do create technology, we can't sell it off fast enough anyway 🤷‍♂️

                        • F
                        • AnonF-1061058
                        • PyK
                        • 14 Mar 2025

                        Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025Seriously?? On my iPhone, I use Orion browser instead of Sa... moreTechnically, every single browser on iOS and iPadOS is WebKit. Even Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc. uses WebKit on iOS/iPadOS instead of Chromium/Gecko.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • YUU
                          • 14 Mar 2025

                          OfficialTRider, 14 Mar 2025Lol, in iOS, everything from Chrome to Firefox have to use ... moreThe UK are not talking only iOS or Android. They are basically the whole browser ecosystem be it iOS, Android, Windows etc etc. In iOS you need to use WebKit as the iOS is not Linux based system. iOS is a Unix based system. Hench why the other browser need to use WebKit 🤦🏻‍♂️
                          Go learn more about operating system before you show your stupidity to the world 🙄🤦🏻‍♂️

                            Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025Seriously?? On my iPhone, I use Orion browser instead of Sa... more1. Just because you use it doesn't mean everyone does. 93.23% of iOS users use Safari [1].
                            2. You do not need to lock your OS to prevent other users from using other browsers. All browsers on iOS were forces to use WebKit until recently, after new EU regulations [2]. So real innovation is stifled, and all browsers offered nearly identical performance. Additionally, for over a dozen years, it was impossible to set any other browser as the default one on iOS [3].
                            3. Consider Google Chrome. Chrome is pre-installed on all Android devices, and the vast majority of users can't be bothered to switch to a new one due to the effort it takes. Due to this, Chrome has a humongous market share in browsers, and Google can easily use this to push for web frameworks that benefit their company and help them make more revenue from ads. Here's an insightful guide: [4]
                            4. There are actually four active browser engines [5], and this number will increase if monopolies are dismantled and more options are available for people to choose.
                            5. On a side note, unless you're regularly browsing .onion websites and/or your threat model necessitates it, please don't use Onion Browser. When browsing the clearnet, you *will* lose anonymity so you're better off with a VPN. Also, iOS has full control over some network traffic [6], so you lose anonymity then too. You're also slowing down the TOR network for everyone else.

                            Sources:
                            [1] https://techjury.net/blog/web-browser-market-share/
                            [2] https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/25/24050478/apple-ios-17-4-browser-engines-eu
                            [3] https://infrequently.org/2022/06/apple-is-not-defending-browser-engine-choice
                            [4] https://old.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/huk4rp/why_you_should_degoogle_intro_degoogling/
                            [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_browser_engines
                            [6] https://onionbrowser.com/about

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • srr
                              • 14 Mar 2025

                              They should try iOS instead.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • n5A
                                • 14 Mar 2025

                                If the UK oppose it, then I'm on Apple's side.

                                  • J
                                  • J
                                  • SHp
                                  • 14 Mar 2025

                                  Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025Seriously?? On my iPhone, I use Orion browser instead of Sa... moreYes and rhis new browser you are interested in could not be possible for now on iOS

                                    Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025Seriously?? On my iPhone, I use Orion browser instead of Sa... moreLol, in iOS, everything from Chrome to Firefox have to use webkit instead of their own engine.

                                      Anonymous, 14 Mar 2025Seriously?? On my iPhone, I use Orion browser instead of Sa... moreAll web browsers on iOS are just Safari with different design.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • YUU
                                        • 14 Mar 2025

                                        Altius, 14 Mar 2025It's not about creating British technology, it's ... moreSeriously?? On my iPhone, I use Orion browser instead of Safari. Your argument doesn't make sense. Do Apple and Google lock their phones OS to not other web browsers to be install?? Nope, I don't think so. If you're talking about web browser engines, sadly today there is only 3 option available.

                                        That is, Chrome (Chromium) base (Google Chrome, Brave, Vivaldi, Opera and etc), Firefox (Gecko) base (Firefox, Tor, Librewolf, Mullvad, Iceraven, Fennec and etc) and WebKit base (Safari, GNOME web, Dolphin, Konqueror, Split browser, Otter browser and etc) and there is new player in town, they call themself as "Ladybird" browser. This is a new web browser with brand new web browser engine. Entirely new. It's not chrome or Gecko or WebKit base. I'm eger for it.

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