Russia opens antitrust case Apple over app preinstall

Russia has opened a formal antitrust case against Apple for its refusal to preinstall state-backed applications on devices operating in the country, escalating a long-running regulatory dispute. The Federal Antimonopoly Service initiated the case after Apple failed to fully comply with a warning requiring the preinstallation of the MAX messaging app and the RuStore app marketplace.

The case centers on Apple's alleged non-compliance with Russian laws mandating domestic software on devices. Authorities had warned the company to address what they described as discriminatory conditions. While Apple partially complied by enabling the preinstallation of a Russian search engine in an updated version of its iOS software, it did not include the MAX messenger or RuStore app store. Apple also removed the MAX app from the Russian App Store in late June. The regulator had set a deadline of July 15, 2026, for full compliance.

If found guilty of violating Russian competition law, Apple could face a fine of up to 4 billion rubles, approximately $49.8 million. This development marks the latest clash in Moscow's efforts to enforce rules promoting local digital services on foreign technology...