Apple is once again being required to preinstall Russian apps on devices sold in the country, or face a fine of up to $52 million. Here are the details.
As reported by Reuters, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service is accusing Apple of “discriminatory practices against Russian search engines and software,” and threatening a 4 billion roubles ($51.6 million) fine unless the company “fails to remedy the violations by July 15.”
The news comes nearly a year after the Russian government introduced a rule requiring all phones and tablets sold in the country to ship with MAX, its state-backed messaging app, preinstalled.
Initially, Apple hadn’t been affected, as it had halted official product sales in Russia in March 2022, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
But now, Russia is threatening to slap Apple with a multimillion-dollar fine unless it complies with the requirement, though Reuters’ report does not specify how the company would be expected to implement it.
The move comes just days after Russia demanded an explanation from Apple for removing several apps developed by state-controlled tech company VK from the U.S. App Store.
Given that Apple no longer has any retail or corporate presence in Russia at all, and literally all current Apple products in Russia are grey market things that have been smuggled in, it seems like Apple faces little to zero risk by just ignoring whatever Russia says and any fines they might claim to impose.
Following the removal, a Kremlin spokesperson told Reuters that if Apple didn’t explain, the country would” need to draw conclusions accordingly regarding the continuation of any cooperation with this company.”
This isn’t the first time Apple has faced government pressure to preinstall a state-backed app.
Last year, India ordered smartphone makers to add its Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app to new devices and push it to existing phones through software updates, a demand that Apple also refused. The mandate was dropped days later following widespread backlash.
To read Reuters‘ full report, follow this link.
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Marcus Mendes is a Brazilian tech podcaster and journalist who has been closely following Apple since the mid-2000s.
He began covering Apple news in Brazilian media in 2012 and later broadened his focus to the wider tech industry, hosting a daily podcast for seven years.
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