In this episode, we explore the US App Store Freedom Act, its implications for digital competition, and how it compares to international regulations like the DMA and the Japanese Mobile Software Competition Act. Gene Burrus, a competition law expert, shares insights on legislative prospects and the future of app distribution. Find the contents of the App Store Freedom Act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3209. Throughout the conversation, Gene mentioned a couple of developments in which US policymakers have considered regulating digital markets in the past. Click on those developments below: - 02:00, The Open App Markets Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2710. - 02:17, The Antitrust Investigation of the Rise and Use of Market Power Online and the Adequacy of Existing Antitrust Laws and Current Enforcement Levels: https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/issues/digital-markets-investigation. - 03:34, The American Innovation and Choice Online Act: https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R47228/R47228.2.pdf. - 03:36, The Ending Platform Monopolies Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3825. - 04:43, The DOJ's consent decree on Microsoft: https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2002/August/02_at_453.htm. - 05:20, The Open App Markets Act favourable vote in committee: https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/2/senate-panel-advances-bill-targeting-apple-google-app-store-power. - 05:44, The App Store Freedom Act committee hearing: https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3818. - 10:17, Gene's op-ed in The Washington Reporter on the imposition of junk fees: https://washingtonreporter.news/op-ed-gene-burrus-the-junk-fee-congress-can-actually-cut/. - 11:07, Apple's DMA compliance workshop where it challenged the European Commission's position as the DMA's enforcer: https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/events-poolpage/2025-apple-dma-compliance-workshop-2025-06-30_en. - 18:29, Apple executives recognising the faults of their app review process: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2021/04/10/apple-iphone-app-store-fleeceware-scam-iphone-12-pro-max/. - 19:01, California's AG triggers suits against Apple and Google for so-called nudify apps: https://www.wired.com/story/san-francisco-demands-apple-and-google-delete-ai-nudify-apps-from-app-stores/. - 25:05, The US Google Search saga: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-wins-significant-remedies-against-google. Key moments 00:00 Introduction to the US App Store Freedom Act and digital regulation landscape 01:01 Gene Burrus introduces the main features of the App Store Freedom Act 01:45 Comparison with European DMA and Japanese approaches 04:10 Legislative support and bipartisan prospects for the Act 07:47 Scope of the Act and its potential as a proof of concept 10:01 US regulatory stance and international coordination challenges 12:55 Addressing security concerns and malicious compliance fears 14:53 How the Act could open up alternative app distribution channels 20:00 Enforcement mechanisms: FTC, state AGs, and private enforcement 26:46 Global coordination and preventing regulatory fragmentation 30:04 Final thoughts on the future of digital competition regulation To learn more about Dr. Alba Ribera Martínez and her research, we invite you to visit her website: https://www.albariberamartinez.com. She also writes, from time to time, in her newsletter, the DMA Agora, about the latest developments surrounding the European regulation: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7344021393451184128. The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this podcast, its host, or any affiliated organisations.