Apple tells India’s antitrust watchdog CCI that the regulator copied rivals’ claims and did not conduct independent analysis in defending against a 2024 finding that its App Store conduct was abusive and that payment-system coercion required.

Apple argues it is a small player in India with under 6% of the smartphone market and warns that remedies could disrupt its business model and deter investment in India’s digital economy.

The company contends it was not given an oral hearing during the probe and argues that penalties should be mitigated by factors such as its clean record and the $51 billion worth of iPhones it has exported from India in five years.

The reporting on Apple’s submission reflects developments up to June 29, 2026, drawn from ANI and Reuters.

The report includes inputs from agencies and references Reuters’ review of regulatory documents.

CCI has a history of addressing tech giants’ practices, with prior actions against Alphabet/Google in 2023 related to Android promotion and subsequent changes.

Google’s 2023 case showed past precedent, where the regulator’s rulings impacted big tech, even as outcomes differed in subsequent remedies.

Apple says the investigation was flawed, accusing the DG of parroting complainants’ statements and not independently verifying evidence.

The back-and-forth over penalties and disclosure scope continues, with Reuters serving as the baseline for these claims.

The narrative highlights procedural fairness concerns in Indian competition investigations and how penalties are calculated under the law.

Reuters frames Apple’s submissions as a flashpoint in the broader friction between a global tech giant and India’s antitrust regime.

Neither the CCI nor the DG responded to Reuters inquiries; past large-tech challenges, such as Google’s, have not swayed the CCI in the same way.