Bill · H.R. 3209· House(119-HR-3209)
App Store Freedom Act
- Introduced
- 5/6/2025
- Last activity
- 5/6/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Kat Cammack
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 4
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The App Store Freedom Act aims to stop unfair or deceptive practices in the app marketplace. It requires companies that control both an operating system and a large app store to allow users to choose third-party app stores and delete pre-installed ones. The bill prohibits these companies from forcing developers to use specific payment systems or punishing them for offering better deals elsewhere. It also stops covered companies from using a developer's private business data to compete against them. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission and state officials, with potential fines up to $1,000,000 per violation.
Yes· 3 of 18
Would business owners be better off under this?+8
Highly beneficial for app developers and digital service providers by removing platform-imposed restrictions.
Does this put more rules on large technology companies?+8
Directly regulates the behavior of large companies that control both an OS and a dominant app store.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+7
Provides small app developers fairer access to OS features and removes restrictive payment requirements.
The opposite
Would billionaires be better off under this?-6
Negatively impacts owners of the largest tech platforms by restricting their ability to control ecosystems.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased User Choice: Users can choose third-party app stores as defaults, install apps from sources other than the company-owned store, and delete pre-installed apps (Section 2(a)(1)).
-
Fairer App Development: Developers get free and equal access to the operating system's hardware and software features, along with the documentation needed to use them (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Payment Flexibility: Developers are no longer required to use the covered company's in-app payment system as a condition for being on the operating system or store (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(i)).
-
Better Pricing Opportunities: Companies cannot punish developers for offering more favorable pricing or terms of sale on other platforms (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
-
Improved Communication: Developers can communicate directly with users about business offers and pricing without facing restrictions or fees from the covered company (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Protection of Business Data: Covered companies are banned from using a developer's nonpublic business information to compete against that developer's app (Section 2(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Loss of Warranty and Support: Covered companies are not required to provide customer service or warranty repairs for damage caused by third-party apps or stores installed outside their own system (Section 5(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+7Improves Consumer Protection+5Improves Economic Growth+4Increases Job Creation+3Reduces Inflation+2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+8Good For Middle Aged+4Good For Young Adults+4Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Students+3Good For Billionaires-6
- Education And Technology
- Increases Big Tech Regulation+8Improves Data Privacy+4Improves Intellectual Property Fairness+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+5Improves Freedom Of Speech+3Increase States Rights+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Freedom Of Speech+3
- 1/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/24/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/6/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
James ComerRepublican · Kentucky
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
Darren SotoDemocrat · Florida
Lori TrahanDemocrat · Massachusetts