Malcolm Owen
Russia's competition regulator intends to fine Apple for allegedly violating the country's antitrust laws, claiming the App Store is being used to control the iOS app marketplace.
Announced on Tuesday, the federal antimonopoly service (FAS) declared it intends to fine Apple following an administrative investigation. The fine would be based on Apple's turnover, and has yet to be determined.
The FAS statement seen by Reuters asserts that Apple has "abused its dominant position in the iOS distribution market." This includes claims that Apple "prohibits iOS app developers from telling clients inside the app about the possibility of paying for purchases outside the App Store or using alternative payment methods."
Apple attempted to prevent the regulator from investigating the App Store in April, but it was dismissed by the court system.
Russia's complaint against Apple echoes similar complaints elsewhere, including Apple's dealings with a Dutch regulator about dating apps, among others.
The App Store is not the only Apple arm targeted by Russia. The company was fined $33,900 for allegedly breaking laws requiring local users' iCloud data is stored in servers within the country. Apple is also the subject of a class action lawsuit over the suspension of Apple Pay in the country.
Other tech giants are also being attacked by Russia over alleged rule breaking, with Google fined nearly $365 million on Monday for allowing YouTube to stream video that went against the country's laws.
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11 Comments
Go ahead and try.
Leave the terrorist country!
Russia is not the only country pulling this shit. Maybe it’s time Apple creates two versions of the store, the current one, and a clone that allows everything the regulators want. When a user sets up an Apple device they are given a clear choice between the “walled garden” of safe and vetted apps, or the Wild West of anything goes. The main caveats being that you can change from safe store to unsafe at any time but you can never come back once you do unless you wipe your device and start fresh. It should be made abundantly clear what the advantages and disadvantages are of each choice.
In Russia, competition monopolizes *you*
I thought Apple already left that 3rd world country behind