India has issued a final warning to Apple, signaling it will proceed with an antitrust case against the U.S. technology giant after the company delayed responses to regulators for more than a year and, according to officials, undermined the investigation. The warning is contained in a confidential order from the Competition Commission of India, highlighting growing regulatory pressure on Apple’s App Store practices in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Apple has previously said it fears potential penalties of up to $38 billion if India’s competition watchdog applies a global turnover-based calculation for fines. The concern follows an investigation that found Apple abused its dominant position in the iOS app marketplace. Apple has denied the allegations and challenged India’s penalty rules in court, with the matter currently pending before the Delhi High Court.
CCI Rejects Apple’s Request to Pause Case
While the High Court continues to hear Apple’s legal challenge, a confidential order dated December 31 shows Apple privately requested the Competition Commission of India to pause the entire antitrust case until the penalty rules dispute is resolved. The CCI rejected the request, indicating it intends to move ahead with the proceedings independently of the court case, Reuters news report said.
According to the order, the CCI asked Apple in October 2024 to file objections to the investigation’s findings and submit financial details typically used to assess penalties. The regulator noted that Apple had been granted repeated extensions to comply with these requests.
“The Commission is of the considered view that repeated extensions, despite unambiguous directions, undermine procedural discipline and impede the timely conclusion of proceedings,” the CCI said in its order. It added that such indulgence could not continue indefinitely.
Final Deadline Set for Apple Response
The Indian watchdog has now issued a final warning to Apple, stating that it will proceed with the case unilaterally if the company fails to respond by next week. This marks a critical escalation in the long-running antitrust probe and raises the likelihood of a formal penalty decision if Apple does not engage further with the process.
Apple did not respond to requests for comment. A source familiar with the matter said the company views the CCI’s December order as an attempt to preempt ongoing court proceedings and is unlikely to respond before the Delhi High Court hears the case again on January 27.
Long-Running App Store Dispute in India
Apple’s regulatory challenges in India date back to 2022, when Tinder-owner Match and several Indian startups accused the company of anticompetitive conduct related to its App Store policies. The complaints focused on issues such as mandatory in-app payment systems and commissions charged to developers.
In 2024, Indian investigators released a report concluding that Apple engaged in abusive conduct in the iOS app market. The findings added momentum to the case and increased scrutiny of Apple’s business model in India.
Broader Implications for Big Tech Regulation
The Apple case is being closely watched by global technology companies and regulators, as it could set a precedent for how penalties are calculated and enforced in India. If the CCI applies global turnover as the basis for fines, the financial impact on multinational firms could be substantial.
As India continues to strengthen its competition framework and assert greater oversight over digital markets, the outcome of the Apple antitrust case could have far-reaching implications for app developers, consumers, and the broader technology ecosystem in the country.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
