Apple and Google face UK antitrust investigation into mobile ecosystem

England’s competition regulator launched an investigation into the giant mobile ecosystems of Apple and Google on Thursday to determine whether the tech titans are in breach of the UK’s tough new digital competition rules.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority said it had opened dual investigations into both US tech giants, seeking to assess their positions in their respective mobile ecosystems, including operating systems, app stores and smartphone-based browsers.

The studies will “examine the impact on people using mobile devices and the thousands of businesses developing innovative services or content, such as apps for these devices.” CMA said.

The CMA now has enhanced regulatory powers following the enactment of a new UK law earlier this year called the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act, or DMCC.

DMCC seeks to prevent anti-competitive behavior in digital markets. It can designate large companies with a significant amount of market power in a particular digital activity as having “Strategic Market Status.”

The CMA now has the power to make changes to prevent potentially anti-competitive behavior by any firm granted Strategic Market Status.