Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) complaint points out that most Russian banks were removed from the App Store. Furthermore, Apple isn’t allowing users to install apps to iPhones from any other venue than the App Store in Russia.
Russia’s antitrust agency has set its sights on Apple, saying that the US firm has removed banking and payments apps from its App Store, according to Reuters. The Federal Antimonopoly Service wrote to Apple detailing its concerns about the restrictions, which leave Russian banks unable to offer services.
Not only have most Russian banks been removed from the App Store, users are unable to install apps from outside of the store.
The agency says Apple is showing „signs of violation of antimonopoly legislation,” and it is asking for a „detailed, motivated position on this issue”.
The problem facing Russian banking apps against appearing in the App Store is one that’s not actually in Apple’s control, according to Apple Insider.
Due to Russia’s war against Ukraine, sanctions were placed by the United States, the UK, and the European Union against entities in Russia, including major banks. Many of these sanctions started from February 2023, with more added over time.
Since the sanctions prevent U.S. companies like Apple from working directly with banks in Russia, the bank apps were removed from the App Store, as Apple does what it can to comply with international laws. Aside from violating sanctions, there’s nothing else Apple can do to allow the apps to exist in the App Store.
The other part, in preventing alternative means of installation of the apps, is one that Apple does have some control over. Europe’s implementation of the Digital Markets Act has forced Apple into allowing third-party app storefronts to exist alongside the App Store in Europe.
It seems the Russian regulator wants to know why it doesn’t apply to Russian users at all. For a start, the Digital Markets Act affects European Union members, and Russia isn’t one.
While it’s plausible for Russia to introduce laws forcing third-party app stores to exist in the country in the same way as DMA does for Europe, sanctions become a problem once again.
More details here
Banking 4.0 – „how was the experience for you”
„So many people are coming here to Bucharest, people that I see and interact on linkedin and now I get the change to meet them in person. It was like being to the Football World Cup but this was the World Cup on linkedin in payments and open banking.”
Many more interesting quotes in the video below:
