Apple is at the center of controversy following accusations from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that the tech giant misled the regulator about a user interface issue in iOS related to changing default browsers.
The claims, brought to light by the advocacy group Open Web Advocacy, suggest that Apple implemented deceptive design elements in its operating system, making it more difficult for users to switch away from Safari as their default browser (via MacRumors).
Earlier this year, several reports began circulating, pointing out a troubling design feature in iOS. Specifically, users encountered difficulty changing their default browser when Safari was already set as the primary option.
Unlike other browsers such as Chrome and Firefox, which displayed the option to change the default setting, Safari reportedly did not present users with the same option. This discrepancy was independently verified by several sources, including tech media outlet Ars Technica and the CMA, in March 2024.
In response to the CMA’s inquiries, Apple issued a formal denial on August 1, 2024, rejecting the claims about hidden default browser settings. According to Apple’s statement, the company asserted that the option to change the default browser is, and always has been, clearly visible within the Safari tab of the iOS settings when Safari is the default browser.
Despite Apple’s firm denial, screenshots, videos, and other evidence provided by media outlets and industry experts directly support the initial claims.
Open Web Advocacy, a group that supports greater access to open web technologies, has been vocal about Apple’s alleged misleading behavior in this case. They claim that Apple’s denial to the CMA directly contradicts the evidence that has surfaced from multiple sources.
However, in an update, Apple has stated that Open Web Advocacy’s claims are inaccurate. According to Apple, the design of the default browser setting was recently modified in an iOS update to resolve the issue, and the original design was never intended to discourage users from selecting third-party browsers like Chrome or Firefox as their default option.
Apple insists that the company is committed to offering users flexibility in choosing their preferred browser and has taken steps to ensure that its operating system reflects that principle.
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