NEW DELHI, Jan 16, 2026, 01:14 IST
- India’s antitrust authority has warned Apple it will move forward with the App Store case if the company doesn’t respond by next week
- Another proposal from India would require phone manufacturers to share their source code, sparking concerns over privacy and legal issues
- Apple’s control over its app ecosystem is coming under new scrutiny in the U.S., driven by complaints about content on X and Grok
India has delivered a final warning to Apple in its antitrust probe concerning the iPhone App Store, signaling it will press forward next week after dragging on for over a year. Apple has countered, warning that fines could reach up to $38 billion if calculated on global revenue. 1
The warning emerges as New Delhi considers a sweeping smartphone security overhaul, requiring manufacturers to provide source code—the core programming instructions—for government review and to retain device logs for a year. Akash Karmakar, a partner at Panag & Babu, described this level of access as “a massive step backwards” for India’s efforts to improve ease of doing business. 2
Apple is feeling the pressure in a market that’s massive yet price-sensitive, where regulators have shown a greater willingness to impose rules on foreign tech companies. According to Counterpoint, Apple topped global smartphone shipments in 2025 with a 20% share, followed by Samsung at 19% and Xiaomi at 13%. Analyst Varun Mishra highlighted “solid demand in emerging and mid-sized markets” as a key factor behind Apple’s lead. 3
The India antitrust case traces back to complaints filed since 2022 by Match Group, Tinder’s parent company, along with various Indian startups. They contend that Apple’s iOS App Store policies put pressure on developers and restrict options available to iPhone users.
In 2024, investigators released a report accusing Apple of “abusive conduct” in the iOS apps market. Regulators then asked Apple for its objections and financial data needed to determine penalties. The Competition Commission of India noted Apple repeatedly requested extensions and declared it would move forward regardless of Apple’s input.
In court filings earlier this month, the watchdog stood by its 2024 rule change that allows fines to be based on global revenue, claiming that focusing solely on India-specific turnover makes penalties too easy for multinationals to handle. The commission insisted this method maintains penalties as a “real deterrent” in cross-border digital markets. Apple, on the other hand, contends it risks imposing disproportionate punishment for actions within India. 4
The timeline might still shift if courts limit the data Apple is required to share, or if the company decides to appeal any ruling, potentially dragging the case out in an already rapid smartphone market.
Beyond India, Apple’s control over iPhone apps is facing scrutiny over content concerns. In the U.S., a coalition of women’s organizations and tech watchdogs called on Apple and Google to pull X and its Grok chatbot from their app stores. Jenna Sherman, director of the UltraViolet campaign, emphasized, “We are really imploring Apple and Google to take this extremely seriously.” 5
Apple has remained silent on the India antitrust warning and declined to comment when approached. Meanwhile, the government confirmed that talks over the smartphone security proposal are still underway. The upcoming court hearing on the penalty dispute is set for Jan. 27.
