Apple has vehemently accused Indian antitrust investigators of "copy-pasting" claims from rival companies and an earlier European Union probe, rather than conducting an independent analysis into alleged App Store abuses. The tech giant's rebuttal comes amidst an ongoing investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) into its App Store practices.
Apple Alleges Replication, Not Investigation
According to regulatory documents, Apple contends that the Director General (DG) leading the investigation made "no effort whatsoever to independently verify or critically assess these statements, often parroting them verbatim." Apple reportedly submitted comparison tables highlighting striking similarities between the regulator's report and complaints previously filed by competitors such as Match Group, PhonePe (backed by Walmart), and Paytm.
The company further alleged that the CCI investigation "blindly replicated" a chart from a European Union antitrust investigation that had previously ruled against Apple. This chart, depicting worldwide consumer spending on mobile apps and games, was supposedly used without adaptation for the Indian market. Apple argued that India possesses a distinct consumer base, behaviors, competitive landscape, pricing, and market conditions, rendering the unadapted chart inappropriate and irrelevant to the local context.
The Core of the Antitrust Claims
The initial allegations, dating back to 2024, suggested Apple abused its dominant position through the App Store on iPhones. Specifically, investigators claimed Apple mandated the use of its proprietary in-app payment system, thereby limiting alternative payment options for app developers.
Apple's Defense: Market Share and Ecosystem Integrity
In its defense, Apple maintains it has not violated India's competition laws. The company highlighted its relatively small footprint in the Indian smartphone market, stating it holds less than 6% market share. It stressed that the investigation's heavy reliance on competitor complaints, rather than independent scrutiny, was a significant flaw.
Furthermore, Apple issued a warning about the potential repercussions of forced alterations to its App Store model. The company argued that such changes could disrupt its meticulously integrated ecosystem, which seamlessly combines hardware, software, security, and payment systems. "The imposition of remedies would create regulatory uncertainty and could deter investments in India's digital economy," Apple stated, underscoring the potential negative impact on India's burgeoning digital sector.