2025-05-01T13:31:01Z

---

In a strategic move aimed at reshaping the mobile app landscape, Meta has teamed up with industry heavyweights such as Spotify, Garmin, and Match to establish a new lobbying group known as the Coalition for a Competitive Mobile Experience. This coalition has been formed primarily to advocate for the interests of app developers, particularly as these interests increasingly clash with the dominant positions held by tech giants Apple and Google.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the coalitions initial focus will be on promoting the idea that age verification for app users should fall under the jurisdiction of app stores rather than the individual apps themselves. This shift in responsibility aims to alleviate the burden on app developers, enabling them to focus on delivering innovative services without being overly encumbered by compliance measures directed at protecting younger users.

Brandon Kressin, the director of the coalition, emphasized the shared interests among its founding members, stating, What these founding companies share in common is they rely on the mobile ecosystem in order to serve their customers. They each recognize theres power in numbers, especially when going up against companies as powerful as the duopoly. This sentiment highlights the collective stance that smaller and mid-sized companies can achieve more through unity, particularly when vying against the immense market power held by Apple and Google.

One of the coalition's immediate priorities includes supporting ongoing legislative measures that would require app stores to verify user ages. This initiative follows Utah's recent legislation, which mandates that app stores implement age verification protocols. In an effort to expand these regulations, the coalition plans to back similar bills in various states and support analogous proposals in both the House and Senate. However, Google has publicly criticized Meta's approach, alleging that the tech giant is attempting to offload its responsibility for safeguarding children online onto app stores.

The formation of this coalition comes at a critical time, as Apple recently faced a significant legal setback. Just hours before the coalition's announcement, a judge ruled that Apple could no longer collect fees on purchases made outside of its apps, nor could it restrict developers from directing users to alternative payment methods. This ruling represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle between Apple and Epic Games, further underscoring the shifting dynamics in the app marketplace.