Stricter rules for the big players
“AICOA” would only cover very large platforms. Among other things, thresholds of at least $175 billion in average annual sales and a reach of at least 34 percent of US households or monthly active US users aged twelve and over are envisaged. Apple would therefore fall under the planned rules. The content of the draft is very reminiscent of the EU’s Digital Markets Act and adopts the essential core points.
The initiators are talking about a targeted law that is intended to improve competition and consumer prices, because once you reach a certain size and power, the normal rules of the free market can be overridden. Free choice and fair pricing no longer work when operators are referees, playing field and teammates – i.e. large corporations have gained an influence that can make it difficult or impossible for competitors to enter the market.
Same principle as DMA, same arguments
The discussion is about the same fundamental question as the DMA. Are Apple’s control mechanisms a necessary part of data protection, security and user experience – or do they serve to keep competition in its own ecosystem to a minimum and to bind as many users as possible to its own products? Apple’s argument is always to solve everything for the benefit of the customers. Any restriction on the current business policy inevitably means endangering the security of users.
In the USA, exactly these justifications are currently being repeated, which, however, have not been particularly effective against the competition authorities in various economic areas. Just looking at Apple’s gigantic sales from its own services shows why Apple doesn’t want any competition here, say the counterarguments. In addition, it is still the decision of the users and not the large corporation as to which products they would like to use.