Expert: Mandatory preinstallation of Russian soft may cap competition

MOSCOW, Jun 28 (PRIME) -- Obligatory preinstallation of Russian applications on imported devices could restrict competition, Yevgeny Lifshits, head of agency Cyber Safety, a member of the expert council at the information policy committee at the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, told PRIME on Friday.

“Talks on the initiative have not emerged for the first time. I don’t think all manufacturers will do it. Correspondingly, such initiatives would most likely limit competition,” Lifshits said.

Media reported earlier that the Digital Development Ministry wants to oblige smartphone and tablet manufacturers to preinstall local applications on devices supplied to the country.

In August, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered the ministry and the Federal Antimonopoly Service to draft a bill to make preinstallation of local software programs on smartphones and computers compulsory.

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