Apple’s request to put ‘antitrust report’ on hold turned down by CCI

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has dismissed Apple’s plea to pause an ongoing antitrust investigation, ensuring the probe will proceed. According to internal documents cited in reports, the CCI deemed Apple’s request to delay the investigation report as “untenable.”

The case originates from a 2021 complaint filed by the NGO Together We Fight Society (TWFS), accusing Apple of leveraging its market dominance in the iOS app store ecosystem to unfairly benefit itself at the expense of app developers, users, and payment processors. Apple, TWFS, and the CCI have not publicly commented on the latest developments.

In August, the CCI had to recall investigation reports after Apple raised concerns that sensitive commercial information had been inadvertently shared with competitors, including Match Group, the parent company of Tinder. Following the recall, the regulator instructed all involved parties to return and destroy copies of the initial reports and issued revised versions.

Despite these measures, Apple raised new concerns in November, claiming that TWFS had failed to confirm compliance with the directive to destroy the earlier reports. Apple urged the regulator to withhold the updated investigation report until this non-compliance was addressed, according to reports.

The investigation centres on allegations that Apple abused its dominant position in India’s app store ecosystem to restrict competition. However, Apple has defended itself by downplaying its market share in India, describing itself as a “small player” in a market dominated by Google’s Android operating system. Apple has also denied engaging in anti-competitive practices.

As part of the investigation, Apple has been directed to submit audited financial statements for fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24. These documents will help the CCI assess any potential monetary penalties.

Senior CCI officials are currently reviewing the investigation’s findings, and a final ruling on the case is expected in the coming months. The outcome could have significant implications for Apple’s operations in India and its broader compliance with competition laws.