The App Store Freedom Act prohibits major technology companies that control both an operating system and app store (like Apple and Google) from engaging in unfair practices that limit competition and consumer choice. The bill requires these "covered companies"—those with more than 100 million U.S. users—to allow customers to set third-party apps as defaults, install apps outside their official stores, and delete pre-installed apps, while also preventing them from forcing developers to use their payment systems, punishing apps that offer better pricing elsewhere, or using confidential developer data to compete unfairly. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the law through civil penalties up to $1 million per violation, and state attorneys general can also bring lawsuits on behalf of their residents. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment, once the FTC issues compliance guidance, and includes exceptions for protecting intellectual property, national security concerns, and existing state consumer protection laws.
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