Washington, DC—Today, Representative Lori Trahan (D-MA) co-sponsored the App Store Freedom Act, which was introduced by Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) in May. The bill would outlaw anti-competitive practices in mobile app stores, which are dominated by Google and Apple. Gene Burrus, Global Policy Counsel for The Coalition for App Fairness (CAF), released the following statement:
“CAF applauds Rep. Trahan for joining Rep. Cammack in co-sponsoring the App Store Freedom Act. The bipartisan support for this legislation speaks to a clear consensus: Apple and Google’s mobile walled gardens must be reformed. The bill takes a commonsense and targeted approach to ensuring consumer choice, competition, and opens the door for alternative app marketplaces. We urge Rep. Cammack and Trahan’s colleagues to join them in supporting the App Store Freedom Act.”
Rep. Trahan’s co-sponsorship follows the recent introduction of the bipartisan Open App Markets Act in the Senate. It also follows a landmark U.S. Federal District Court ruling, requiring Apple to allow developers to point customers outside apps to make purchases without restrictions or fees.
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The Coalition for App Fairness is an independent nonprofit organization formed to protect consumer choice, foster competition, and create a level playing field for all app and game developers globally. Originally formed by Basecamp, Blix, Blockchain.com, Deezer, Epic Games, the European Publishers Council, Match Group, News Media Europe, Prepear, Proton, Skydemon, Spotify, and Life360, CAF has rapidly grown from 13 to 80 members since launching in September 2020. CAF offers membership to companies of any size — join today at appfairness.org.