Russia threatens Apple with fine over alleged app discrimination

Russian authorities have ordered Apple to stop what it calls discriminatory practices against local search engines and software or pay a penalty of up to 4 billion roubles, or approximately $51.6 million. The deadline for compliance is July 15.

Russia sets July 15 deadline for Apple According to Reuters, the Federal Antimonopoly Service accuses the iPhone maker of violating local rules and will impose the roughly $52 million fine unless Apple corrects the issues by mid-July. The underlying dispute involves a requirement that devices sold in the country must come with certain Russian apps already installed.

Apple previously avoided the preinstallation rule The renewed pressure follows a mandate introduced almost a year ago that required all phones and tablets sold in Russia to ship with MAX, the government-backed messaging application, preinstalled. Apple had escaped that obligation after it stopped official sales there in March 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Reuters noted that officials gave no details on how the company could satisfy the rule at this stage.

Recent dispute over VK apps adds pressure The warning arrives shortly after Moscow sought an explanation from Apple for pulling several applications created by the state-controlled VK technology group from the U.S. App Store. A Kremlin spokesperson told Reuters that failure to provide clarification would force the country to "draw conclusions accordingly regarding the continuation of any cooperation with this company."

Apple has resisted similar government demands before The situation echoes an episode last year in which India instructed device manufacturers to preload its Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity tool on new smartphones and deliver it to existing units via updates. Apple declined to comply, and the order was withdrawn days afterward after public criticism.