Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) opens a new antitrust case against Apple related to iOS software requirements for devices sold in the country. The regulator says Apple did not fully comply with an earlier FAS warning issued to address practices the agency describes as discriminatory, including requirements that changes be implemented on iPhone and iPad software. According to FAS, Apple only partially carried out the requested steps after receiving the warning earlier this summer, which leads to the formal investigation.
Both outlets report that a key part of the case concerns Apple’s refusal to preload Russian state-backed and domestic applications. The FAS cites the national messaging service Max and RuStore, a domestic app store, which it says Apple failed to preinstall on iOS devices in Russia.
Apple faces potential financial exposure if the case proceeds, with AppleInsider reporting that the matter could result in a fine approaching $50 million. The reports also reference the investigation as a continuation of a longer-running dispute between Russia and Apple over compliance with regulatory demands for app availability on iOS.
