The App Store Freedom Act wants to change how your phone works
A new bill introduced this week in Congress could force major changes to how Apple and Google run their app stores in the U.S. The App Store Freedom Act, filed by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), would require companies with more than 100 million U.S. users — which, realistically, means just two names — to let users install and set third-party app stores as default on their devices.
What’s actually in the bill
If passed, the bill would compel platforms like iOS and Android to:
- Let users download third-party app stores and set them as default.
- Remove or hide built-in apps from the main system view.
- Allow outside payment systems in apps, bypassing Apple or Google’s commissions.
- Give developers full access to features, APIs, and tools — without extra fees or restrictions.
If a company fails to comply, the Federal Trade Commission could hit them with fines of up to $1 million per violation.
Background: a global trend
The U.S. isn’t the first to challenge Apple’s closed ecosystem. In Europe, the Digital Markets Act has already pushed Apple to open the door to third-party stores and alternative payment options. The same pressure is now growing stateside — and this bill brings it directly into the U.S. legal framework.
Rep. Cammack says the goal is to break up what she calls “monopoly control” over app distribution and pricing. Her team argues that current policies limit consumer choice and push higher fees onto developers and users.
What happens next?
The bill’s future isn’t clear. It’s early in the process, and tech lobbying groups will almost certainly push back. But it adds another layer to the growing scrutiny around Apple and Google’s dominance — not just in how we use apps, but who controls the flow of money and data behind them.
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