India's antitrust investigation hits Apple for market abuse

• The CCI report will undergo a review by senior officials

A ruling by India's antitrust body found that Apple misused its dominant position in the market for app stores on its iOS operating system. 

According to Reuters, this comes from a confidential report seen by the news agency, stating Apple's exploits have led to an investigation. Apple denies wrongdoing, stating it's a minor player in India, where Android devices are more dominant.

However, the CCI report says Apple has “significant influence" over digital products and services through its iOS platform and App Store.

“Apple App Store is an unavoidable trading partner for app developers, and resultantly, app developers have no choice but to adhere to Apple's unfair terms, including the mandatory use of Apple's proprietary billing and payment system," said the CCI unit.

"From the perspective of app developers, the Apple iOS ecosystem is indispensable."

What's next?

Senior officials will review the CCI report, and in the meantime, Apple and other parties can respond before a final decision, which may include fines and other directives. 

Apple's antitrust issues are not limited to India. The tech giant faces increased scrutiny globally. In June, EU regulators said Apple breached tech rules, potentially leading to a hefty fine. Apple also faces an investigation into new fees for app developers. 

In response to the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple plans to allow software developers to distribute apps outside its App Store in the EU after bringing its battle with Epic Games to a close.