Apple, Google’s Mobile Systems Face Deeper UK Antitrust Scrutiny

Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google were designated with so called strategic market status in the UK, exposing the US firm’s mobile ecosystems market to deeper scrutiny from the country’s antitrust watchdog.

The Competition and Markets Authority said Wednesday that Apple and Google’s almost complete dominance of the mobile operating systems, app stores and mobile web browsers deserves the designation. The move comes under tougher competition rules for digital markets that came into effect earlier this year.

“The app economy generates 1.5% of the UK’s GDP and supports around 400,000 jobs, which is why it’s crucial these markets work ...