CCI Rejects Apple’s Appeal, Antitrust Investigation to Proceed
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has dismissed Apple Inc.'s appeal to halt the investigation into alleged violations of competition law, according to a Reuters report. The inquiry, initiated in 2021, accuses Apple of exploiting its dominance over the App Store on iOS to disadvantage app developers, users, and payment processors.
Investigation Continues Despite Apple's Objections
In August, the CCI had retracted earlier investigation reports after Apple claimed that confidential business information had been leaked to competitors. Subsequently, new reports were issued.
In November, Apple alleged that the complainant, Together We Fight Society (TWFS), failed to comply with CCI’s directive to destroy the earlier reports. Apple requested the suspension of the new investigation, but the CCI deemed the appeal “unfounded.”
CCI’s Directive and Next Steps
The commission has directed Apple to submit audited financial statements for fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24, which will assist in determining potential penalties.
Apple has denied all allegations, emphasizing that it is a minor player in India’s market, where Google’s Android dominates.
The CCI is expected to review the investigation findings and deliver a final ruling soon.
