Apple may soon face an antitrust case in Russia after the July 15 deadline for preinstalling Russian search engines expired. According to a Telegram post (сказала) the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) gave the company two months to comply, otherwise the regulator may block devices or impose fines. Источник: Telegram-канал ru2ch
The law requiring preinstalled Russian search engines was introduced to support domestic tech and data localization. Apple has not placed any Russian search services on iPhones sold in the Russian Federation, which regulators consider a violation of the current legislation. If the case proceeds, the outcome could include forced removal of Apple services from Russian devices or even a temporary ban on sales.
По словам юристов, regulators have clear legal grounds to demand compliance and could move forward quickly. Legal analysts note that the process follows standard antitrust procedures, and similar actions have been taken against other foreign tech firms in recent years. However, Apple has so far avoided direct sanctions in the Russian market.
Russian users on forums and social networks are divided. Some express concern about losing access to familiar iPhone features, while others welcome the push for domestic alternatives. Bloggers point out that preinstalled Russian search engines could improve data privacy for local customers.
Apple previously added Yandex to some European iPhone models, but official preinstallation for the Russian market has not yet been implemented. This gap highlights broader challenges for foreign manufacturers seeking to align with Russia’s localization requirements.
The Russian government’s localization drive includes mandates for Russian language settings and data storage within the country. In 2023, a new law required foreign smartphones to have Russian language options preinstalled, part of a strategy to reduce dependence on foreign ecosystems.
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