Google's and Apple's tightrope walk between enforcement and oversight as distributors and developers for health apps

Google’s and Apple’s tightrope walk between enforcement and oversight as distributors and developers for health apps

Medical Xpress January 31, 2023
by Dresden University of Technology

Stephen Gilbert and colleagues published an article in npj Digital Medicine on the conflicts of interest faced by app store operators Google and Apple, which are both legal distributors and importers of health apps into the European market and developers of those same apps.

Google and Apple dominate as a “duopoly” with their app stores. They distribute and import many thousands of health and wellness apps into the EU, some of which are approved as medical devices. New ones are added daily. Under EU rules, those who distribute health apps are also responsible for ensuring that they meet certain regulatory requirements.