Apple alleges CCI copied rivals' claims in antitrust probe
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Apple has accused the Competition Commission of India (CCI) of relying on allegations made by rival companies without conducting an independent investigation, as it seeks to overturn the regulator's finding that it violated competition laws.
The allegation comes after a CCI investigation concluded in 2024 that Apple had abused its dominant position in the market for iPhone applications.
According to Reuters, Apple argued that the CCI failed to properly investigate the case and instead repeated the claims of its competitors. The company said submissions made by firms including Tinder parent Match Group, Walmart-backed PhonePe and Paytm were copied "word for word."
"The Director General (DG) made no effort whatsoever to independently verify or critically assess these statements, often parroting them verbatim," Apple said, according to Reuters.
The antitrust complaint was originally filed in 2021 by several entities, including the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), Match Group and a non-profit organisation.
The complainants alleged that Apple's App Store policies, particularly its mandatory in-app payment system, restricted competition and limited choices for app developers.
The CCI's investigation found that app developers were effectively compelled to use Apple's proprietary payment mechanism for in-app purchases, reinforcing the company's dominance within its ecosystem.
Apple rejected the findings, arguing that its position in India's smartphone market is limited compared with Android-powered devices. The company said its market share currently stands at about 9%, up from 4% when the CCI began its investigation in 2021.