Ripping you off Stage 3
Safari is genuinely good for users: tracking prevention is on by default and it is light on battery. The problem is structural. On iOS, Apple requires every browser to use WebKit, Safari’s engine, and the UK competition regulator cited this when designating Apple in 2025. Self-dealing plus default lock-in. Stage 3.
Why it’s rated 3
The criteria it meets, with sources · Method
- Alignment 0 of 3
- None
- Lock-in 1 of 4
-
- L4 Gatekeeper or default
- Extraction 1 of 7
-
- E6 Self-dealing Oct 22, 2025
- Decline 0 of 3
- None
Result Two or more extraction criteria, or lock-in plus at least one, so stage 3.
News signals
Sourced reporting, tagged by strategy
Oct 22, 2025
UK regulator designates Apple with strategic market status, citing the WebKit rule that favours Safari
Self-preferencingRegulatory risk