Apple Seeks to Block Indian Watchdog from Accessing Global Financial Data
Apple has petitioned an Indian court to prevent the country’s antitrust authority from demanding its worldwide financial records during an ongoing investigation into its app store practices. The company is simultaneously contesting the validity of India’s penalty rules under competition law, according to court documents.
Legal Battle over App Store Policies
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is investigating allegations that Apple abused its dominant position in managing its app store. Apple has firmly denied the accusations. The case forms part of a broader global scrutiny of the company’s app store policies, which have drawn regulatory attention in several markets.
Neither Apple nor the CCI has issued an official response to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Challenge to Financial Disclosure and Penalty Rules
The CCI requested Apple’s global financial statements in a confidential order dated 31 December. In response, Apple filed a petition with the Delhi High Court on 15 January, seeking an order to prevent the CCI from taking any further action until the court rules on the validity of the penalty framework.
Apple has argued that being compelled to disclose global financial information at this stage would undermine its central legal challenge. The company contends that India’s penalty rules, which allow fines to be calculated based on global turnover, are excessively punitive and could lead to penalties as high as 38 billion dollars.
The CCI, however, maintains that the current rules are necessary to deter anticompetitive conduct by large multinational corporations.
Next Court Hearing
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear Apple’s petition on 27 January. The outcome could determine the extent of regulatory authority the CCI holds in demanding global data from multinational firms while investigations are under judicial review.
with inputs from Reuters
