India Intensifies Antitrust Scrutiny of Apple
NEW DELHI, Jan 16, 2026, 01:14 IST
- India’s antitrust authority has issued a prompt to Apple, signaling it will advance with its App Store investigation unless a response is received by next week.
- A proposed regulation demands phone manufacturers disclose their source code, inciting anxiety over privacy and legal ramifications.
- In the U.S., Apple faces renewed scrutiny regarding its app ecosystem, fueled by grievances associated with content on platforms like X and Grok.
India’s antitrust investigation into Apple regarding its iPhone App Store has reached a critical junction, with officials indicating that they will proceed next week after a delayed inquiry spanning over a year.
Apple has countered these developments, cautioning that potential fines could soar to $38 billion if assessed based on global revenues.
This warning coincides with New Delhi’s contemplation of a comprehensive security overhaul for smartphones.
The proposed regulations mandate manufacturers to provide source code—the fundamental programming directives—for governmental examination and to retain device logs for a duration of one year.
Akash Karmakar, a partner at Panag & Babu, characterized this extensive access as a “significant regression” for India’s ambitions to enhance the business environment.
The tech behemoth is increasingly feeling the heat in a colossal yet price-sensitive market, where regulators are noticeably more inclined to impose restrictions on foreign technology firms.
According to Counterpoint, Apple claimed the lead in global smartphone shipments in 2025, commanding a 20% market share, closely followed by Samsung at 19% and Xiaomi at 13%.
Analyst Varun Mishra underscored “robust demand in emerging and mid-tier markets” as pivotal to Apple’s dominance.
The antitrust case traces its roots back to complaints lodged in 2022 by Match Group, the parent organization of Tinder, alongside various Indian startups.
They argue that Apple’s iOS App Store policies exert undue pressure on developers and restrict options accessible to iPhone users.
In 2024, regulatory investigators accused Apple of “abusive conduct” within the iOS applications market. Following this, regulators solicited Apple’s objections and necessary financial data to determine suitable punitive measures.
The Competition Commission of India has noted that Apple consistently requested extensions but asserted it would continue its action irrespective of Apple’s submissions.
In recent court filings, the commission reaffirmed its 2024 policy alteration that permits fines to be calculated based on global revenue.
It argued that a focus on Indian-specific revenue would make penalties excessively manageable for multinational corporations.
The commission maintained that this approach ensures penalties act as a “genuine deterrent” in international digital markets.
Conversely, Apple contends that such measures risk imposing disproportionate penalties for its activities within India.
The timeline for resolution may be subject to change, contingent on whether courts impose limitations on the data Apple must supply or if the company opts to appeal any decision, potentially extending the resolution process in an already fast-paced smartphone market.
Beyond the Indian context, Apple’s stewardship over its iPhone applications faces mounting scrutiny concerning content moderation.
In the U.S., a coalition of women’s advocacy groups and technology watchdogs has urged both Apple and Google to remove X and its Grok chatbot from their app marketplaces.
Jenna Sherman, director of the UltraViolet campaign, stressed, “We are earnestly urging Apple and Google to address this with the utmost seriousness.”
Apple has refrained from commenting on the antitrust warning issued by India and has opted not to respond when approached.
In the meantime, the government has confirmed that discussions regarding the smartphone security proposal remain in progress. A crucial court hearing concerning the penalty dispute is scheduled for January 27.
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