- Russia’s competition regulator FAS has ruled that Apple is abusing its dominance through the App Store.
- It was apparently unfair when it blocked Kaspersky’s Safe Kids app for parental control.
- The company could be forced to allow the app or make other changes.
Google is not the only major owner of phone platforms claiming Russian anti-trust abuse.
Reuters reports that the country’s competition regulator, FAS, has determined that Apple abused its control over the App Store when it blocked an updated version of Kaspersky Lab’s Safe Kids app. Apple apparently used its absolute say on app submissions to limit competition from Kaspersky and others to iOS ‘built-in Screen Time feature, which combines parental control and well-being features.
It was “extremely important” for companies like Apple to establish “non-discriminatory conditions” for store access to ensure healthy competition, according to FAS deputy chief Aleksey Dotsenko.
The watchdog said it would issue a “corrective order” to enforce compliance, although it did not say what that would mean. It may require Apple to reinstall the apps with features intact, or to release its App Store policies.
We asked Apple for comment, although it already said it would appeal the ruling.
Read more: How to set up and change Google Play Parental Controls
The situation may not have been as clearly reduced as Russian officials have described. Apple has denied or demanded changes to apps like Safe Kids after it determined they were compromising privacy and security with Mobile Device Management, a tool typically reserved for businesses instead of children. The profiles could be misused to install malware, Apple said at the time.
However, developers also accused Apple of not giving much warning as an explanation when they asked them to process their apps. In some cases, they claimed that Apple was effectively asking them to change business models in the short term.
Whether or not Apple should comply, the decision comes at a bad time for the tech giant. The European Commission is currently investigating Apple for anti-trust issues, including its control over the App Store, while Congress has its own concerns about competition. Apple is under more pressure to change than before, and decisions like Russia may not leave much to be desired.
