Apple (AAPL, Financials) is facing new pressure in Russia after the country's antitrust regulator accused the company of discriminating against local search engines and software.
Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service said Apple must address the alleged violations by July 15. If it does not, the company could face a fine of up to 4 billion roubles, or about $51.6 million.
The regulator said Apple should ensure Russian software is pre-installed on its devices. That includes local search engines and the messenger app Max.
The warning adds to Apple's regulatory challenges in international markets, where governments have pushed large technology companies to give more room to domestic services. For Apple, the issue centers on how much control it keeps over software settings and app access on its devices.
The financial risk is modest compared with Apple's overall business, but the case shows how local rules can create complications for global technology companies.
Investors will now watch whether Apple makes changes before the July 15 deadline or challenges the regulator's claims.