Russia’s anti-competition watchdog on Monday said that Apple is abusing its dominant industry position with the iOS App Store, and an official order is imminent.
Apple is currently in the midst of antitrust probes in both Europe and the US In the latter country, ongoing investigations culminated at an U.S. House hearing in July.
According to Reuters, the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has issued a ruling declaring that Apple’s App Store allows the company an unfair market advantage in the digital app economy.
Specifically, the FAS’s ruling cites the need for users to download iOS apps from the official App Store, and claimed that Apple has “unlawfully reserved rights” to block any third-party app from the marketplace. The watchdog also signaled that it would issue an order demanding that Apple resolve its alleged regulatory abuses.
The FAS launched its investigation following a formal complaint by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab. The company issued the complaint after Apple blocked its “Safe Kids” parental control app from the App Store, citing child privacy and security concerns.
At the time, Apple’s removal of those parental control apps prompted concerns that the company was quashing competition of its Screen Time feature. Apple responded, stating that the use of mobile device management (MDM) and other tools in the apps presented a security risk.
The Cupertino tech giant is among the targets of large antitrust investigations across the globe. In Europe, probes were sparked by Apple Music rival Spotify. In the US, Apple is being examined by both the Justice Department and the House Judiciary Committee for alleged unfair behavior and treatment of apps on the App Store.
Full Content: Reuters
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
BHP Unveils £31bn Mining Megamerger Proposal with Anglo American
Apr 25, 2024 by
nhoch@pymnts.com
ByteDance Prefers Shutdown Over Sale of TikTok Amid US Ban Threats
Apr 25, 2024 by
CPI
FCC Votes to Restore Net Neutrality Rules
Apr 25, 2024 by
nhoch@pymnts.com
Apple Rejects Spotify’s Updated App Over In-App Pricing Disclosure
Apr 25, 2024 by
CPI
FCC Set to Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules Today
Apr 25, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI