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Google Android app store antitrust mandates

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What changed

2026-08-13 23:03 UTC → 2026-08-15 04:35 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following a court order in the United States, Google is undergoing changes to the Android ecosystem to integrate third-party app stores directly into the Google Play Store. This mandate, which follows legal actions involving Epic Games, requires Google to share its app catalog with competitors. The mobile gaming specialist Aptoide has already launched in the US via the Play Store. ~~Further judicial intervention by~~ During a compliance hearing in San ~~Francisco judge has targeted~~ Francisco, Judge James Donato ruled that Google’s current methods for discovering and installing third-party marketplaces are “deliberately obstructive.” The court identified specific technical hurdles that create “anticompetitive friction.” ~~The court~~ To rectify these issues, the judge ordered Google to ~~rectify~~ fix its search functionality so that queries for app marketplaces return relevant results rather than retail chains. Additionally, Google must change the installation button for third-party stores from “view” to “install” and remove mandatory intermediate landing ~~pages~~ pages, such as unnecessary interstitial banners and “Are you looking for?” prompts that ~~appear when users search for specific competitors.~~ redirect users. Google has been given one week to implement these changes to ensure its execution meets the requirements of the previous injunction.

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