Russia Apple Fine :Russia warns Apple of $51.6 million fine over default iPhone setup apps |
Russia Apple Fine :Russia warns Apple of $51.6 million fine over default iPhone setup apps |
Publish Date: 2026-07-03 01:13:00
Source Domain: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Russia’s competition authority has warned Apple that it could face a financial penalty if it does not change how iPhones are configured for users in the country. The notice focuses on how devices arrive with software choices already in place, with officials arguing that domestic digital services are not being given equal space at the point of setup. Search tools and a locally developed messaging app called Max have been singled out as examples of services that should appear more prominently when a phone is first activated.Reuters reported that the demand carries a deadline in mid-July and a possible fine of up to 4 billion roubles, roughly $51.6 million. The dispute sits within a wider pattern of scrutiny over how global technology platforms manage default applications across different markets. No formal admission of wrongdoing has been made publicly by Apple so far, and the company has not set out any detailed response to the latest warning.
Regulators seek changes in Apple device setup
The focus is not on individual applications in isolation but on the initial configuration that comes with new devices. Regulators want more visibility for Russian-built software during the first stages of use, when users are choosing which services to rely on.The concern being raised is that preinstalled arrangements can influence habits long before alternative downloads are considered. Search engines and messaging tools developed domestically are central to that argument, with officials saying they should not be treated as secondary options buried behind global defaults.Apple Inc has been asked to adjust that setup process so local services are not disadvantaged when a device is switched on for the first time.
Russia sets 15 July 2026 compliance window before potential fines
The warning comes with a clear timeframe. Mid-July is the point at which regulators expect to see changes, or else enforcement measures could follow. The figure being discussed, up to 4 billion roubles,…
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