Russia threatens Apple with $52 million fine preinstall

Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service has threatened Apple with a fine of approximately 51.6 million dollars unless the company complies with demands to preinstall state-backed Russian software on iOS devices sold in the country. The regulator issued a formal warning, giving Apple until July 15 to address what it calls discriminatory practices against Russian-developed applications.

The agency specifically demands that iPhones and iPads sold in Russia come with the MAX messenger app and Russian search engines preinstalled. This warning follows a separate demand made by Kremlin officials in late June for Apple to explain why several apps developed by the Russian technology holding company VK were removed from the App Store without warning. The removed apps included social media, video platforms, and messaging services. Russian authorities have characterized the deletions as politically motivated and unjustified.

A significant complication is that Apple has not officially sold its products in Russia since March 2022, following the country's invasion of Ukraine. The company has no authorized retailers in the country. Devices now entering Russia are typically smuggled in via grey...