Apple has mounted a strong pushback against Indian antitrust authorities, accusing investigators of relying on unverified complaints from competitors rather than conducting an independent probe before concluding that the company violated competition laws.
In a submission dated June 25, seen by Reuters, Apple urged the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to set aside the findings of its investigation, marking the company’s most forceful response yet in the ongoing case.
The dispute centers on Apple’s App Store policies. Investigators determined in a 2024 report that the company engaged in “abusive conduct” by mandating developers to use Apple’s in-app payment system on its iOS platform. Apple has firmly rejected the allegations, emphasizing its limited presence in the Indian market.
“We are a minuscule player,” the company said, noting it holds less than 6% of India’s smartphone market share.
Apple argued that the Director General’s report heavily mirrored submissions from rivals, including Match Group (owner of dating app Tinder), as well as Indian fintech firms PhonePe and Paytm. The tech giant submitted comparison tables to the CCI demonstrating what it described as verbatim copying of rival claims.
“The DG made no effort whatsoever to independently verify or critically assess these statements, often parroting them verbatim,” Apple stated in the filing.
The company also criticized investigators for reproducing a chart on global consumer spending on mobile apps and games that originally appeared in a 2024 European Union ruling, despite what Apple called significantly different market conditions in India.
Apple warned that any forced changes to its App Store model could disrupt its tightly integrated ecosystem, potentially creating regulatory uncertainty and discouraging future investments in India’s digital economy.
The company is opposing both financial penalties and behavioral remedies.
Neither the CCI nor its investigative arm responded to requests for comment. Apple also declined to comment publicly.
The case echoes a previous antitrust battle with Google, which faced similar accusations regarding its Android practices in India.
In 2023, Google argued that regulatory intervention could stifle its growth, but it was ultimately required to make changes to its business operations.
A closed-door hearing involving all parties is scheduled for July 21 before senior CCI officials.
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