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Japan: Apple Must Lift Browser Engine Ban by December (open-web-advocacy.org)

447 points by mtomweb · 356 days ago · 345 comments on HN

Article summary

Japan has passed the Smartphone Act, which prohibits Apple's ban on third-party browser engines on iOS, and the Mobile Software Competition Act Guidelines have been published to clarify how the Act will be interpreted and enforced. The guidelines explicitly prohibit any measures that would prevent or hinder the adoption of third-party browser engines and mandate fair access to OS APIs. This move is expected to promote competition regarding individual software and may lead to Apple permitting browsers to run their own engines. The Act is expected to come into force by December 2025.

Main themes

  • Browser Engine Ban
  • iOS Competition
  • Regulatory Enforcement
  • Apple's Market Dominance
  • Browser Development

What commenters say

  • The ban on third-party browser engines has hindered browser competition on iOS, and its removal may lead to increased investment in alternative browsers.
  • Some commenters believe that switching to Blink, a Google-controlled engine, could be a viable alternative for Firefox, while others argue it would cement Google's dominance.
  • The market size and potential revenue may not be sufficient to justify the investment required for major companies like Google or Mozilla to develop and maintain their own browser engines on iOS.
  • Others argue that using a competitor's browser engine, such as Blink, would not affect their dominance, while some think it would further cement their market position.
  • There are concerns that a single company, like Google, having too much influence over web standards development could be detrimental to the web ecosystem.
  • Some commenters think that the US should join the EU, UK, and Japan in regulating Apple's behavior and promoting competition in the browser market.
  • The removal of the ban may not necessarily lead to a significant increase in alternative browser usage, as many users may not be aware of or interested in using non-Safari browsers.
  • The potential for web apps to compete with native apps is seen as a threat to Apple's commission-based revenue model, and the company may be motivated to maintain its control over app distribution.