Google's and Apple's central rationale for limiting app developers to working through their app stores is that they're screening apps for security reasons. If

Google's and Apple's central rationale for limiting app developers to working through their app stores is that they're screening apps for security reasons. If they're doing such a poor job of it, then there's no reason for such limitations, other than as another rent-seeking monopoly effort. > "Additionally, a new Commerce Department report cited Apple and Google as “gatekeepers” of mobile app stores, leaving consumers at the mercy of their pricing and selection. The report calls for new legislation that would boost competition in the mobile app market, which would help both consumers and app developers." To extend the FDA analogy, we don't really require stores that sell products to be held responsible for flaws in or problems with those products, e.g. contaminated baby formula. The onus should be on the manufacturer (or the app developer) - but this also means that if a store sells a certain brand (e.g. Whole Foods 365 brand) then they are directly responsible for any issues with that product.