Russia plans to fine Apple over alleged antitrust violations

AppleInsider

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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rob53

Go ahead and try. 

pwrmac

Leave the terrorist country!

robin huber

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. 

Dead_Pool

In Russia, competition monopolizes *you*

red oak

I thought Apple already left that 3rd world country behind 

rob53

robin huber said:

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 if 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. 

Unfortunately this would simply give “nice” countries the ammunition they need to force Apple to open everything up. Governments need to understand manufacturers have some rights in how they want their products used. Governments aren’t funding these companies so why should they feel they can control how they build products? I’d rather see governments go after patent trolls than telling companies how to build things. Our government has no idea how to build computers. 

williamh

So Apple doesn’t allow app developers to tell customers about payment options or provide options. Apple shouldn’t even consider complying before Russia allows its journalists to tell its citizens what they’re doing to Ukraine. 

It’s so interesting and sad how they’ve become the fascists they claim to be fighting. 

baconstang

Well, if they're pissing off Russia, they must be doing somehting right.

lordjohnwhorfin

Apple should completely get out of Russia until they get out of Ukraine and pay for their warcrimes.

DAalseth

lordjohnwhorfin said:

Apple should completely get out of Russia until they get out of Ukraine and pay for their warcrimes.

I agree. Apple has, I seem to remember, said something about not wanting to harm their customers in the country, but that excuse is pretty lame. No, it’s time Apple just cut everything off. Support, iCloud, updates, everything. You cross the line into Russia or Belarus, your device is SOL. And I agree about Russia paying for its war crimes. Not just in Ukraine either, they did some pretty hideous things in Syria, Chechnya, and Georgia as well. It’s time they paid the piper.

martinxyz

Alternatively...

Russia plans to get bags of hard currency by fining Apple over something something something.