Now Reading: US judge orders Google to simplify rival app store installations
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US judge orders Google to simplify rival app store installations
US District Judge James Donato has ordered Google to make rival app stores easier to find and install through the Play Store. The company must remove warning and confirmation steps within a…
The Story in Brief
US District Judge James Donato has ordered Google to make rival app stores easier to find and install through the Play Store. The company must remove warning and confirmation steps within a week, after Epic Games demonstrated the obstacles in court.
Searches for terms such as “store for apps” can return unrelated results, including physical stores. Users may also have to tap “View” before reaching the install option, while searches for Aptoide can lead to an extra banner or confirmation page. Donato called these steps “anticompetitive friction” and directed Google to make alternative app stores as easy to install as Android apps from the Play Store, Times Now and GSMArena report.
The Indian Opinion
The easy narrative is that Google is simply blocking competition, while the opposite claim treats every extra tap as harmless design. Neither captures the issue. Search results that miss a user’s clear intent and screens that delay installation can influence choice, even without an outright ban. The practical test is whether a search for an app store soon produces relevant alternatives with a direct install option, and whether users can make that choice without warnings designed to deter them.
Sources (2): gsmarena.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
