A group of 55 Chinese consumers has filed a formal antitrust complaint against Apple Inc. with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), alleging that the company abuses its dominant market position through restrictive App Store policies and excessive commission fees. The complaint, submitted on Monday, was brought by lawyer Wang Qiongfei, who confirmed the filing and its scope in public statements.
The complainants argue that Apple violates China’s Anti-Monopoly Law by forcing consumers to purchase digital goods exclusively through the company’s In-App Purchase system, restricting iOS app downloads to the Apple App Store, and charging commissions of up to 30 percent on in-app transactions. According to the group, these practices collectively create a closed ecosystem that limits consumer choice and competition.
The filing also highlights what the complainants describe as unequal treatment across jurisdictions. They note that Apple has allowed alternative payment systems and third-party app distribution in the European Union and the United States following regulatory intervention, while continuing to impose stricter rules in China.
The complaint arrives at a sensitive time for Apple, as trade and technology tensions between Beijing and Washington continue to intensify. Both governments have turned to tariffs, export controls, and technology restrictions as policy tools, placing multinational technology companies at the center of geopolitical frictions. The case could therefore test China’s readiness to apply its competition laws to major U.S. firms operating within its market.
This is not the first time Wang has led legal action against Apple. A similar civil lawsuit filed in 2021 was dismissed by a Shanghai court last year. Wang has appealed that decision to the Supreme People’s Court, which heard arguments in December but has not yet issued a ruling. He stated that he expects the current administrative complaint to advance more swiftly than the earlier judicial proceedings.
Apple has not yet responded publicly to the allegations.
The complaint comes as Chinese regulators have stepped up antitrust enforcement against U.S. technology companies. The authorities are currently investigating Qualcomm over its proposed acquisition of Israeli automotive chipmaker Autotalks, part of a broader pattern of scrutiny targeting foreign firms in the technology sector.
If accepted by SAMR, the complaint could mark a significant moment in the evolution of China’s antitrust regime, potentially reshaping how global digital platforms operate in one of the world’s most tightly regulated markets.
