Aug 13, 2021 - Technology

House lawmakers join Senate in targeting app stores

Margaret Harding McGill

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

House Judiciary lawmakers on Friday introduced legislation meant to boost competition in app stores by setting rules for how companies like Google and Apple control their marketplaces.

Why it matters: The bipartisan bill is the House companion to Senate legislation introduced earlier this week, showing the appetite from both chambers of Congress to take on the app store battle.

Driving the news: House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee ranking member Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) say the Open App Markets Act will allow app developers to tell consumers about lower prices and open up more competition for third-party app stores and payment services.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced their bill, cheered by developers including Spotify and Tile, earlier this week.

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House lawmakers join Senate in targeting app stores

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