The State Duma has passed a law requiring manufacturers of smartphones and tablets to pre-install the Russian application store RuStore and ensure its operability. The amendments to the Law "On Protection of Consumer Rights" will come into force on January 1, 2024, and will affect all devices sold in the Russian Federation.
Individual device manufacturers (primarily Apple smartphones and tablets) continue to establish prohibitive conditions at the level of license agreements with users and third-party application developers, restricting the ability to install such applications from independent sources, as well as application access to certain functions of devices and (or) the operating system.
According to the document, users should be able to freely install and update applications through RuStore, as well as make payments through its system. Manufacturers are prohibited from restricting the functionality of Russian applications, including their search, settings, and interaction with users.
RuStore is a Russian application store created by VK (formerly Mail.ru Group) as an alternative to Google Play. It is designed for Android devices and offers games and applications, including Russian services and government services.
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