Jason Fischer bill targets Google, Apple app fees
Last year, similar bills targeting app stores cropped up across the Northeast, writes Sarah Wall of R Street.
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Critics of the bill claim government overreach, with a decided lack of conservative tenets.
“Legislators interfere in the private contracts between app stores and the developers whose products populate them,” Wall writes. “That is an abject contradiction of free-market principles, but more to the point, it also has long-term negative consequences for consumers, especially consumers who value simplicity and security on their smartphones over customizability. “
“There’s nothing conservative about proposing new regulations for a market that by all measures has been successful and there is no evidence of market failure,” said Wayne Brough, R Street’s Director of Policy Director for Technology and Innovation. “App stores create a market where millions of consumers have access to millions of apps. Consumers appreciate that they can shop with confidence, knowing the apps have been vetted for malware and security risks. Developers like the ability to reach a global marketplace and the tools app stores provide to promote and manage their products. It’s a win-win for everyone involved — except perhaps large corporate interests looking to the government to carve out a better deal for themselves in the app stores.”
