In 2023, the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia intends to submit to the State Duma a bill similar to the EU law that obliges Apple to allow the installation of applications on iPhones and iPads from third-party stores.
The Ministry of Digital Development intends to submit a bill to the State Duma in early 2023 that would allow iPhone users in Russia to download apps not only from the App Store, similar to the EU law, the head of the ministry, Maksut Shadaev, told reporters, TASS reported.
"The Ministry of Digital Development is preparing a bill similar to the European Commission's one, which would oblige owners of mobile device platforms to implement these options," Shadaev said.
He specified that the draft law is planned to be submitted to Parliament in the first quarter of 2023.
Bloomberg reported this week that Apple is going to allow apps to be installed on iPhones and iPads from third-party stores.
In the EU, the Digital Markets Act came into force in November. In particular, it suggests that companies such as Apple and Google should make it easier for users to customize their apps by default and allow third-party apps to be downloaded. The law is aimed at "creating a level playing field for third-party developers and improving consumers' digital lives," amid complaints from authorities and software makers about the dominance of the App Store and Google Play. According to Bloomberg, Apple could make the necessary changes as early as next year as part of an iOS 17 update.
After the start of the special operation, Apple has suspended shipments to Russia, also disabling Apple Pay service. In addition, a number of sanctioned Russian banks, including Sberbank and VTB, had their apps removed from the AppStore.
Source: RBC
