Apple's Battle in India: Antitrust Woes Mount as CCI Rejects Report Delay
1min read Apple Inc. is facing significant scrutiny from India's antitrust body, the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The tech giant's request to pause the release of an investigation report, which alleges violations of competition laws, was recently denied. This development comes amid Apple's ongoing challenges within the Indian market.
The CCI's probe found that Apple leveraged its dominant position in the iOS app store market to the detriment of app developers, users, and rival payment processing providers. Despite these allegations, Apple has denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing its relatively small market presence in India where devices running Google’s Android are predominant.
Apple challenged the CCI’s handling of the investigation, claiming that confidential business information was shared prematurely with competitors, including Match Group, the parent company of Tinder, back in 2021. This prompted a demand by the CCI for all parties to return and destroy copies of the initial report, leading to the issuance of a revised document.
In response to Apple’s concern about non-compliance by the complainant, an Indian non-profit organization, Together We Fight Society (TWFS), Apple has urged the CCI to take action. Nonetheless, CCI reaffirmed their position, declaring Apple's request to postpone the publication of the investigation report as baseless.
As the proceedings continue, the CCI has further mandated that Apple submit audited financial statements from the fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24. This measure aims to assess any potential fines Apple may face based on regulatory guidelines. Senior officials at the CCI are currently reviewing the investigation report as they edge closer to making a final decision on the case.