In a move that highlights the tension between Western tech giants and Moscow, Apple Inc. has been ordered by Russia’s competition regulator to make a Russian search engine the default on its devices sold within the country and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The government says Apple’s current setup disadvantages domestic providers by giving default preference to foreign search engines.
The requirement isn’t just about setting a different search engine. According to a formal letter from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) to Apple, devices sold in Russia must include a search engine developed in Russia or another member state of the Eurasian Economic Union, have it pre-installed, and have it enabled by default without the user having to change any settings manually.
Apple has reportedly been given until October 31, 2025, to comply. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development backed the FAS position and warned that failure to act could lead to “serious consequences” for the U.S. firm.
While the latest directive focuses on search engines, it is part of a longer pattern of regulatory pressure on Apple and other foreign tech firms operating in Russia. For instance, in 2022, the FAS accused Apple of abusing its dominance in the iOS app market and later imposed a significant fine.
Even though Apple halted official product sales in Russia in early 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, its devices continue to circulate via “parallel imports”, genuine hardware imported through unofficial channels. Under that reality, any directive still holds weight because sales and use remain significant in the Russian market.
This new requirement for search engine defaults thus reflects not just competition policy but touches on issues of technological sovereignty, national control of data flows, and local-versus-foreign company dynamics.
Implications for users and competition
For Apple device users in Russia, this means their iPhones and iPads may soon come with a Russian search engine preinstalled out of the box. While users will still likely be able to change their settings after purchase, the default choice has real power, as many users stick with defaults. Changing the default search engine might become an added step.
From a competition standpoint, the order challenges Apple’s global practice of offering a selection of search engines or allowing a user-choice screen. The FAS argues Apple’s current arrangement unfairly privileges non-Russian search engines and stifles competition for domestic alternatives.
On the flip side, tech analysts warn this could make the user experience more complicated for Apple, raise tensions in the broader global regulatory environment, and set a precedent for national governments demanding deeper control over device defaults.
If Apple complies, the company will need to implement changes specifically for its Russian-market devices. Under the current global supply-chain model, regional variations add complexity. Failure to comply could lead to fines, restrictions, or other enforcement actions by Russian authorities.
User choice and default settings matter more than you think
It might seem trivial whether the default search engine is Google, Yandex, Mail.ru, or another, but default settings matter a great deal. Many users don’t change already set settings, whether by convenience, trust, or lack of awareness. That means the default product becomes the effective product for a large portion of users.
If users in Russia are nudged into using a domestic search engine, that affects data flows, user behavior, privacy considerations, and competitive dynamics. Search engines collect vast amounts of user data (queries, clicked links, time spent), and that data is valuable. By shifting defaults, Russia is effectively tilting a technical platform to favour domestic providers.
For Apple users outside Russia, this change may seem irrelevant, but it reveals the tensions global tech firms face. Once a company agrees to a variant in one market, other markets might push for similar control or defaults. The balance between global product consistency and local regulatory compliance is becoming ever more complex.