Apple has agreed to provide financial data to India’s competition regulator, potentially advancing a long-standing antitrust case towards a penalty decision. Recently, Apple consented to submit its India-specific financial information, which the Competition Commission of India (CCI) requires to determine possible fines. At a recent hearing, Apple’s lawyer requested a final extension until June 25 to file the necessary data, which the CCI approved.
This decision marks a significant shift for Apple, which had previously resisted sharing financial details with the regulator. The company contended that the case should be paused while it challenges India’s updated antitrust penalty law, which could impose fines based on global revenue rather than just local earnings, risking up to $38 billion in fines for Apple.
The CCI dismissed this argument, insisting it only needed India’s financial data initially and accused Apple of using its court challenge to delay the process. A Delhi High Court judge recently directed Apple to cooperate with the investigation after the company attempted to suspend the case.
The case originated in 2021 when a group of complainants, including Match Group and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation, filed a complaint about App Store policies. The CCI concluded its investigation in 2024, determining that Apple had misused its dominant position in the iPhone app market and that the App Store was an “unavoidable trading partner” for developers, who were not allowed to use third-party payment services for in-app purchases.
This case unfolds as India becomes increasingly important for Apple, with the iPhone’s market share rising to 9% from about 2% five years ago. The company has also significantly increased its manufacturing presence in India to lessen its reliance on China.
