Spotify CEO Daniel Ek wants Congress to approve an antitrust law for a “fair digital future.”
In a Wednesday blog post, he said the bipartisan Open App Markets Act will transform the digital world and promote innovation, collaboration, and fair competition.
Ek is in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to support the measure, which the Swedish billionaire claimed would encourage competition by putting fundamental constraints on app store gatekeepers’ anticompetitive behavior that hurts developers and users.
Apple’s restrictions on developers’ user interaction on features, offers, and new goods prevent competition
Apple offers Spotify subscribers bargains on Apple Music but not us. “What’s even more unbelievable is that we can’t even tell our users how to sign up for Spotify or buy audiobooks,” Ek remarked. “This prevents customers from comparing services and prices.”
Every day, he talks to developers who are “disadvantaged by the small number of gatekeepers controlling the internet,” including “abuses by gatekeepers like Apple.”
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPOT | SPOTIFY TECHNOLOGY SA | 133.51 | -1.08 | -0.80% |
| AAPL | APPLE INC. | 167.63 | +1.16 | +0.70% |
Ek highlighted that while Apple has helped make the phone and tablet the most prevalent internet gateways, the internet was not designed to be dominated by a few dominating firms.
Consumers pay more under this arrangement that lets gatekeepers choose their own conditions. “Any aspiring entrepreneur who wants to create a company without these arbitrary rules really doesn’t stand a chance,” he added.
Ek stressed the importance of Europe’s Digital Markets Act since the U.S. was falling behind.
“This is why we’ve arrived at an inflection point with a clear choice: To fight for an open, competitive marketplace that fosters creativity and enables entrepreneurs to develop and promote their products, or to continue to allow a handful of companies to hold the keys to the internet and advantage themselves at the expense of others,” Ek said.
Apple and Google deny anticompetitive app store tactics.
Apple, which requires iOS app makers to use its Apple App Store, claims its rules protect users.
Apple didn’t respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.