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Apple has agreed to submit the financial details of its India operations to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), marking a significant development in the antitrust investigation into the company's App Store practices, according to a Reuters report.
The case is among Apple's most closely watched regulatory challenges in India, a market that has become increasingly important for the company as it expands iPhone production and sales in the country.
A confidential CCI order reviewed by Reuters showed that Apple sought additional time during a hearing in May to provide India-specific financial information. The regulator granted the request and set a deadline of June 25 for the submission.
The financial data is considered a key element in antitrust proceedings because it can be used by regulators when determining potential penalties if violations are ultimately established.
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The investigation stems from a 2024 CCI finding that Apple may have abused its dominant position in the market for iPhone applications. Apple has denied the allegations and previously indicated that it would challenge the findings.
The company had also resisted sharing financial information, arguing that broader legal questions regarding India's competition law framework should first be resolved. Apple has separately challenged provisions of India's revised antitrust regime, which allow penalties to be calculated using global turnover rather than only domestic revenue.
According to the Reuters report, Apple had argued that requests for financial information could potentially expose it to significantly larger penalties under the revised framework. The CCI, however, maintained that it was initially seeking only India-specific financial details and had repeatedly urged the company to cooperate with the investigation.
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The case began in 2021 following complaints from multiple parties, including a non-profit organisation, Match Group, which owns dating platform Tinder, and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), a body representing Indian startups.
The complainants raised concerns about Apple's App Store policies, including its in-app payment system requirements. The investigation report concluded that Apple's App Store functions as an essential platform for developers seeking to reach iPhone users and noted restrictions on the use of alternative payment systems for in-app purchases.
Apple has maintained that its position in India should be viewed within the broader smartphone market, where Android-powered devices account for a dominant share of users.
The case draws comparisons with a previous CCI action against Google, which was fined in 2022 over its app payment policies. Google also contested the regulator's findings.
Apple's decision to provide its India financials could now move the investigation closer to the next phase, where the competition watchdog will assess objections, review evidence and determine whether any penalties or corrective measures are warranted.
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