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14-03-2025
Bureau Report + Agencies
NEW DELHI: Apple has successfully blocked its opponents in India, Tinder-owner Match, opens new tab and a group of startups, from accessing its commercially sensitive information which was part of antitrust findings against the US firm, a confidential order shows.
An investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) last year found Apple exploited its dominant position in the market for app stores on its iOS operating system to the detriment of app developers, users and other payment processors.
Apple has denied wrongdoing and said it is a small player in India where phones using Google’s operating system are dominant.
The investigation process has concluded but CCI’s senior members are yet to review the findings and pass a final ruling, which could force Apple to pay fines and even change its practices if the company is confirmed to have indulged in wrongdoing.
Apple’s opposing parties in the case, Match and startup group Alliance of Digital India Foundation asked the CCI to allow access to certain confidential information which include developer payouts and details of total billings, but were redacted when investigation reports were shared with parties.
Match argued Apple, opens new tab had been “claiming excessive and unwarranted redactions in its submissions” across the world “to hinder effective scrutiny of its practices”, but the CCI did not agree and ruled in favor of Apple, according to a 13-page confidential order issued on March 3 and seen by media.
The order noted Apple’s comments, saying “the very fact that Match is involved in similar antitrust proceedings” with the company elsewhere will cause Apple harm if its commercially sensitive information is provided to Match.
“The Commission notes that disclosure of such redacted information at this stage to ADIF and Match is neither necessary nor expedient … and disclosure of the same could potentially cause harm to the interests of Apple and other third parties,” the CCI noted.
The CCI, Apple, Match and ADIF did not respond to media queries.
The Indian case was first filed by a little-known, non-profit group called “Together We Fight Society” which argued Apple’s in-app fee of up to 30% hurts competition by raising costs for app developers and customers.
Apple’s iOS powered about 4% of 712 million smartphones in India as of 2024 end, with the rest using Google’s Android, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple’s smartphone base in the country has grown five times in the last five years.
Apple can still oppose findings of the CCI investigation and watchdog’s senior members are expected to issue a final ruling in coming weeks.
In 2022, the CCI imposed a $113 million fine on Google and said it must allow the use of third-party billing and stop forcing developers to use its in-app payment system that charges commission of 15%-30%. Google has denied wrongdoing.
An investigation by India’s antitrust body has found that Apple exploited its dominant position in the market for app stores on its iOS operating system, engaging “in abusive conduct and practices”, a confidential report seen by Reuters showed.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has been investigating Apple Inc., opens new tab since 2021 for possibly abusing its dominant position in the apps market by forcing developers to use its proprietary in-app purchase system.
Apple has denied wrongdoing saying it was a small player in India where phones that use Google’s Android system are dominant.
The CCI’s investigations unit, in its 142-page report which is not public but was seen by Reuters, said Apple wields “significant influence” over how digital products and services reach consumers, especially through its iOS platform and App Store.
