Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP who chairs the parliamentary science, innovation and technology committee, has accused Apple and Google of maintaining a deeply entrenched duopoly in mobile app distribution that amounts to an implicit "app tax" paid by millions of phone owners and the developers who serve them.
Onwurah says the dominance of the two tech giants goes beyond convenience, enabling business practices that raise costs for consumers and limit choice for innovators. She has repeatedly raised concerns about the companies' collection and use of personal data, the creation of detailed digital profiles or "digital twins," and algorithmic systems that shape what children and other users see online.
Impact on consumers and developers
According to Onwurah, the structure of the app ecosystem gives the platform owners substantial control over pricing, terms and access, creating a commercial environment in which users and app makers effectively subsidise the platforms. Developers face constraints and fees in order to reach handset users, while ordinary phone owners bear the downstream costs through higher prices for services and apps.
She frames the issue as more than a technical or industry concern, saying it affects everyday life and public policy. The influence of a small number of global technology firms touches on competition, consumer protection, privacy and the kinds of choices available to parents and educators about content for children.
Call for regulatory action
Onwurah argues that the UK regulator has the authority to address these problems and should use existing powers to curb anti-competitive practices and protect consumers and developers. Her intervention is part of wider political pressure on policymakers to reassess how digital markets are governed and whether current rules sufficiently constrain dominant platforms.
Her comments feed into ongoing debates in Westminster and beyond about how best to balance innovation, market openness and user protection in the digital economy. The discussion includes questions about enforcement, potential market remedies and how to ensure that regulatory action keeps pace with rapidly evolving technology and business models.