The United Kingdom government is pressing Apple and Google to revise their app store policies to improve transparency over how digital platforms operate and how disputes with developers are handled. Officials said the current rules governing app distribution and related fees lack sufficient clarity for both consumers and developers, and reforms are needed to ensure fairer treatment and information disclosure.
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said it has engaged with the two companies about concerns that app stores do not clearly outline how ranking, fee structures, and account suspensions are determined. Regulators and lawmakers said developers often find it difficult to understand why apps are removed or why certain rules apply, leading to uncertainty and costly compliance challenges.
Apple and Google operate the largest mobile application marketplaces globally through their respective iOS and Android ecosystems. The UK government’s push for change reflects broader scrutiny of platform governance, following similar actions by regulatory bodies in other jurisdictions that have examined app store practices under competition and digital markets laws.
Officials said transparency issues affect developers of all sizes, from small independent creators to larger firms with widely used apps. The focus of the UK engagement is on ensuring that app store terms and enforcement procedures are easy to interpret, that updates to policies are communicated well in advance, and that developers have clear avenues for appeal if decisions are contested.
Industry analysts said the push for more transparent app store rules aligns with wider debates about platform power and competition in digital markets. Apple and Google have defended their marketplace practices in previous policy discussions, saying they invest heavily in security, quality assurance, and user safety. Still, developers and some consumer groups argue that more openness is necessary to level the playing field.
The UK government’s proposals do not yet include specific regulatory language or draft legislation. Instead, officials said they are working with stakeholders, including developer organisations and consumer advocates, to identify key areas where transparency could be improved. These discussions could pave the way for future policy changes under the UK’s digital regulation framework.
Both companies have large multinational user bases and significant influence over mobile software ecosystems, and any changes to their app store rules could affect how millions of users discover and install applications. Apple and Google have not formally responded to the UK government’s request for clearer app store transparency at the time of publication.
The initiative forms part of a wider effort by the UK to regulate major digital platforms. Recent policy actions have focused on online safety, competition, and data governance in digital markets, and government officials said they view app store transparency as another element of effective oversight in technology sectors.
Debate over app store fairness and openness has gained traction in several other regions, with regulators in the United States, the European Union, and Australia scrutinising how dominant app marketplaces set terms and conditions for developers and third-party services. The UK push represents a continuation of that global trend.