"Apps that are pre-loaded because of legislation would presumably not have to pass through a vetting process such as Apple's with App Store submissions."
As you said, this is a presumption. I assume made for sensationalist effect.
If the law insists that such software cannot be vetted by the manufacturer, then the spyware accusation is credible. But if they allow the required apps to go through the usual App Store vetting process, and not require that Apple break its restriction that apps can only be installed via the App Store, then the law is really just about helping the local (Russian) app developers. That's still heavy handed but not nearly as nefarious.
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As you said, this is a presumption. I assume made for sensationalist effect.
If the law insists that such software cannot be vetted by the manufacturer, then the spyware accusation is credible. But if they allow the required apps to go through the usual App Store vetting process, and not require that Apple break its restriction that apps can only be installed via the App Store, then the law is really just about helping the local (Russian) app developers. That's still heavy handed but not nearly as nefarious.