Russia pressures Apple to make Russian search engines default on locally-sold iPhones therecord.media/russia-ap…

Russia’s competition regulator has ordered Apple to make a Russian search engine — such as Yandex or Mail.ru — the default option on devices sold in the country, accusing the U.S. tech giant of violating consumer protection laws.

In a letter to Apple cited by the state news agency TASS, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) said Apple’s current setup gives preference to foreign search engines, putting local providers at a “competitive disadvantage” and infringing on consumers’ rights.

Russian law requires that smartphones and other electronic devices sold in the country come with a preinstalled search engine developed in Russia or another member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). It must also be set as the default and work immediately without additional configuration, according to the FAS.

Apple has until October 31 to comply with the authorities’ demands or face penalties. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development said it had separately sent a letter to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, warning of “serious consequences” if the company fails to comply.