H.R. 3209: App Store Freedom Act
Sponsor
Kat Cammack
Republican · FL-3
Bill Progress
Latest Action · May 6, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Bill targets app store gatekeepers
Why it matters
Introduced on 2025-05-06, the bill would directly regulate app stores tied to operating systems with more than 100,000,000 U.S. users and could reshape how Americans download apps and how developers get paid.
Enforcement is strong on paper. Violations would be treated as violations of a regulation under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the FTC could seek a civil penalty of not more than $1,000,000 per violation on top of existing FTC Act penalties. State attorneys general and state agencies could also sue in U.S. District Court, but they must give written notice and a copy of the complaint to the FTC before filing, or immediately upon filing if advance notice is not feasible. The FTC can intervene, be heard on all matters, and appeal decisions. The bill also preempts certain state laws in this area, preserves state laws on contracts, torts, unfair competition, fraud, and unauthorized access to personal information, and tells the FTC to issue guidance within 180 days of enactment. The law would take effect on the date that guidance is issued.
What does H.R. 3209 do?
Applies only to app giants over 100,000,000 U.S. users
The bill covers only a "covered company" that owns or controls an app store with more than 100,000,000 users in the United States and also owns or controls the operating system on which that app store runs.
Users get outside app stores and default choice
A covered company must let users choose third-party apps or third-party app stores as defaults, install third-party apps or app stores through means other than the company’s own store, and hide or delete pre-installed apps or app stores.
Developers get equal feature access
Covered companies must provide developers access to operating system interfaces and hardware and software features on terms equivalent to those available to the covered company itself or its business partners, and must provide enough documentation and development information to make that access possible.
No forced payment system or price matching
The bill prohibits a covered company from requiring developers to use the company’s in-app payment system, defined as a service or interface that manages billing or processes payments, and bars mandates that a developer’s pricing or terms be equal to or more favorable than on other platforms.
FTC can seek $1,000,000 per violation
Violations are treated as violations of a regulation under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Federal Trade Commission may pursue a civil penalty of not more than $1,000,000 per violation, in addition to existing FTC Act penalties.
FTC guidance due in 180 days
The FTC must issue compliance guidance within 180 days of enactment, and the bill’s effective date is the date on which that FTC guidance is issued.
Who benefits from H.R. 3209?
Independent app developers
They would gain new leverage because covered companies could not force use of the platform’s in-app payment system, could not punish developers for offering different pricing on other stores, and could not restrict or charge fees for business communications with users.
Consumers using major mobile platforms
Users on systems tied to app stores with more than 100,000,000 U.S. users would be able to choose third-party apps or app stores as defaults, install apps outside the company’s own store, and hide or delete pre-installed apps and stores.
Competing app stores
Third-party app store operators would benefit because covered companies must allow installation of third-party app stores through means other than the company’s own store and must provide equivalent access to operating system interfaces and features.
State attorneys general
States get a direct enforcement role by being allowed to bring civil actions in U.S. District Court, as long as they provide written notice and a copy of the complaint to the FTC before filing, or immediately after filing if advance notice is not feasible.
Who is affected by H.R. 3209?
Largest app store platform companies
Companies that own both an operating system and an app store with more than 100,000,000 U.S. users would face the biggest compliance burden, including default-choice tools, outside installation rights, developer access obligations, and exposure to penalties of up to $1,000,000 per violation.
Platform business-partner developers
Developers already getting special access through a covered company’s partnerships could lose some advantage because the bill requires access to operating system interfaces and hardware and software features on terms equivalent to those offered to the company’s own business partners.
FTC
The Federal Trade Commission would have to write compliance guidance within 180 days of enactment, enforce violations under the FTC Act framework, and potentially intervene in state cases and appeal decisions.
States with their own app store rules
States would be limited because the bill preempts state laws that prohibit conduct prohibited by Section 2 or require actions required by Section 2, though state laws on contracts, torts, unfair competition, fraud, and unauthorized access to personal information are preserved.
What Congress Is Saying
H.R. 3209 hasn't been debated on the floor yet.
This section updates when a legislator speaks about it on the floor or in committee.
HR3209 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
May 6, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
About the Sponsor
Kat Cammack
Republican, Florida's 3rd congressional district · 5 years in Congress
Committees: Agriculture, Energy and Commerce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (6)
This bill has 6 cosponsors: 4 Democrats, 2 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 6 states: California, Florida, Kentucky, and 3 more.
Committee Sponsors
Energy and Commerce Committee
4 of 54 committee members cosponsored
29 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 3209 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Energy and Commerce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Commerce
- Introduced
- May 6, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
May 6, 2025
Who is lobbying on H.R. 3209?
6 organizations lobbying on this bill
COALITION FOR APP FAIRNESS | 12 |
APPLE INC. | 6 |
COMPUTER & COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | 4 |
APPLE INC. | 3 |
EPIC GAMES, INC. | 3 |
SPOTIFY | 2 |
Showing 1-6 of 6 organizations
H.R. 3209 Bill Text
“To prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the app marketplace, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “App Store Freedom Act”. SEC. 2. PROTECTING A COMPETITIVE APP MARKET.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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