Anti-trust committee chairman says their monopoly and anti-trust behavior is harmful to consumers.
The U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust Chairman, Representative David Cicilline, called for a congressional investigation into Apple’s app store policies following a recent outcry from developers.
This fresh scrutiny comes after the tech giant blocked a developer from publishing an update to an app, citing the company policy that says all apps must use Apple’s in app payment system. Representative Cicilline pointed out that Apple restricts iPhone and iPad users from being able to install apps from sources other than the official App Store. Additionally, developers are unable to get their apps to consumers without going through Apple, and then they must give Apple a 30% cut of their earnings. Without real competition or an alternative method to obtain the app or service, Cicilline says Apple is able to act as a monopoly.
During an interview, he added, “Because of the market power that Apple has, it is charging exorbitant rents — highway robbery, basically — bullying people to pay 30 percent or denying access to their market. It’s crushing small developers who simply can’t survive with those kinds of payments. If there were real competition in this marketplace, this wouldn’t happen.”
Apple is already under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and European Union for these anti-trust behaviors regarding Apple Pay and its App Store.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for the House Subcommittee on Antitrust as they work to protect American citizens and consumers.
- For guidance and clarity for Congress, the Justice Department, and the FTC as they work to investigate these claims.
- For the House as they look to draft legislation to create a better environment for businesses, large and small, to thrive.
Sources: CNBC, NBC, Politico, The Verge
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