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New Delhi: India’s antitrust watchdog has ordered an unusual withdrawal of its probe report that found Apple had violated competition laws after the US giant complained that its trade secrets were leaked to rivals including Tinder owner Match.
The move would prolong a process that began in 2021 and has already been mired in delays.
In a confidential order issued on Aug. 7 and first reported by Reuters, the antitrust agency requires all of Apple’s opponents in the case to return their investigative reports to the regulator.
“It is imperative to maintain confidentiality of such information and ensure that no unauthorised disclosure takes place,” the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in a four-page order signed by four senior officials.
The order did not reveal what confidential information Apple was concerned about.
In July, Reuters reported that two reports released by the antitrust investigation department in 2022 and 2024 found that Apple exploited its dominant position in the app store market for the iOS operating system.
Companies that have been asked to return reports include Match and Indian startup group ADIF, which represents financial giant Paytm.
The order showed that Apple had previously complained privately to the CCI, claiming that the version of the report it shared with various parties leaked “Apple’s confidential commercially sensitive information” and asked the regulator to “recall and withdraw” the reports.
Apple and Match declined to comment. Regulator Competition Commission of India and Indian startup group ADIF did not respond to requests for comment.
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