Advocating for the future of the open web (JS Party #316)
Mar 14, 2024
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Discover the advocacy work of Open Web Advocacy org in influencing web policies. Learn about Apple's compliance issues with the DMA legislation and the impact on web app development. Explore the challenges of browser competition, anti-competitive practices by tech giants, and the importance of fair market competition in the tech industry.
Open Web Advocacy group works to ensure browser choice and elevate web app status on mobile devices.
OWA collaborates with regulators to drive impactful legislation curbing anti-competitive behaviors of tech giants.
Digital Markets Act now includes provisions for browser competition and prevents gatekeepers from limiting interoperability.
Apple's compliance plans under DMA criticized for restrictive clauses impacting browser market competition.
Deep dives
Digital Markets Act and Gatekeepers
The Digital Markets Act is a new legislation aimed at big corporations with massive user adoption, defining gatekeepers like Google, Apple, Meta, ByteDance, Microsoft, and Amazon. The act focuses on fair competition and restricts gatekeepers from using their platform control to advantage themselves or impose excessive fees. Specific designated core platform services include operating systems like Android, iOS, Windows, and browsers like Chrome and Safari.
Inclusion of Browsers and Web Apps in Legislation
Initially, the Digital Markets Act did not address browser engines or web apps. However, after engagements with the EU and the UK regulators, recommendations were made to include provisions regarding browser competition and web apps. Late adjustments were made to the legislation, preventing gatekeepers from imposing the use of specific web browser engines or limiting interoperability, emphasizing the importance of fair competition for browsers and web software applications.
UK's Investigation on Browsers and Cloud Gaming
The UK initiated an investigation on browsers and cloud gaming, highlighting the market misbehavior by big tech companies like Apple and Google. The investigation, a market investigation reference, allows the regulator to impose conditions on gatekeepers. Apple successfully halted the case briefly, but the UK competitions and markets authority won the appeal, restarting the investigation with the potential to mandate changes to Apple and Google's practices.
Apple and the Implications for Web Competition
The recent podcast episode delved into Apple's actions concerning web competition and their compliance with the DMA. Apple's restrictive behavior towards browser competition and web apps has raised concerns among regulators and developers. The focus has shifted towards ensuring fair and equal competition in browser and web app ecosystems.
Challenges with Apple's Compliance Plans
Apple's proposed compliance plans under the DMA have been scrutinized for unreasonable conditions imposed on other browser vendors. The contracts include broad and restrictive clauses, impacting interoperability and competition in the browser market. The need to align Apple's rules with DMA's principles of fairness and non-discrimination has become crucial.
Calls for Action and Support
Efforts to address Apple's anti-competitive practices require collective action and support. Advocacy groups like OWA are seeking volunteers, donations, and expertise to amplify their message and push for regulatory change. Engaging with government regulators and tech leadership is crucial to ensure a fair and open web ecosystem.
Impact on Consumers and the Web
The hidden harms of Apple's actions on browser competition and web apps may not be evident to the average consumer, but they significantly impact consumer choice and innovation in the digital space. Raising awareness, advocating for equality in competition, and supporting initiatives like OWA are essential steps towards a more open and competitive web environment.
Alex & James Moore, founding members of the Open Web Advocacy (OWA), join Amal to talk about the critical work the OWA has been doing to ensure users have browser choice and that web apps can be first-class citizens on mobile devices. We learn about how an ad-hoc group of software engineers worked with regulators, legislators & policymakers to help drive some of the most impactful legislation curbing anti-competitive behaviors on the web for tech giants such as Apple, Google & Microsoft via the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Tune in for this deeply important & timely discussion as we also unpack recent events with Apple and their DMA (un)compliance, and how the OWA helped successfully organize thousands of web developers from around the world to hold ground for a free & open web.
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