Russia Sues Apple Over LGBT Pride Wallpaper

Russia Sues Apple Over LGBT Pride Wallpaper

Russia has filed a civil lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of promoting “LGBT propaganda” through a rainbow-themed Pride wallpaper in its iOS 18 update.

The case, initiated by Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor on escape lawsuit was filed in Moscow’s Tagansky District Court on April 22, 2025, targets Apple Distribution International Ltd., the primary shareholder of Apple’s Russian subsidiary, Apple Rus. Roskomnadzor claims the Pride wallpaper violates Russia’s 2013 “gay propaganda” law, which bans the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations” and was expanded in 2022 to include adults.

Russia Sues Apple Over LGBT Pride Wallpaper

A guilty verdict could result in a fine of up to 4 million rubles (about $42,400).

The Pride wallpaper, part of Apple’s 2024 Pride Collection, is a dynamic design called Pride Radiance, featuring vibrant beams of light in colors inspired by multiple Pride flags, including black and brown for Black, Hispanic, and Latin communities, and pink, light blue, and white for transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Roskomnadzor associates the rainbow colors with the LGBTQ+ movement, which Russia’s Supreme Court labeled an “extremist organization” in 2023. The lawsuit reflects Russia’s broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ symbols and content, raising questions about Apple’s in the Russian market and its global operations.

Apple’s Market Presence in Russia

Apple holds a significant share of Russia’s smartphone market, with iPhones accounting for 12% of sales in 2024, despite halting direct sales in March 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The company stopped new product shipments and limited Apple Pay but continues to operate the App Store. iPhones are imported indirectly through countries like Turkey and the UAE, sustaining demand in a market of 146 million people.

Apple’s revenue from Russia is not publicly detailed, but the market’s size makes it a valuable segment, even amid Western sanctions and geopolitical tensions.

Russia’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Campaign and Official Stance

No single Russian official has been directly quoted calling the wallpaper propaganda, but Roskomnadzor, led by Andrei Lipov, is spearheading the case.

The regulator has previously targeted companies like Netflix for similar violations. Telegram channel Baza, linked to Russian security forces, reported Roskomnadzor’s objection to the wallpaper’s rainbow colors as symbols of the Pride flag.

The lawsuit aligns with President Vladimir Putin’s narrative framing LGBTQ+ rights as a Western import, intensified by the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that labeled the LGBTQ+ movement “extremist,” enabling fines and imprisonment for displaying Pride symbols.

Impact on Apple’s Operations

The immediate financial impact of a $42,400 fine is negligible for Apple, which reported $383 billion in global revenue last year.

However, repeated fines or stricter measures, like an App Store ban, could disrupt operations. Russia’s seizure of Google’s assets over YouTube disputes forced Google’s Russian subsidiary into bankruptcy, a precedent Apple may face.

Apple has complied with Russian laws before, removing VPNs and media apps from its App Store in 2024, drawing criticism for enabling censorship.

Resisting could risk market access, while compliance may alienate global customers. The case could set a precedent for tighter digital content control in Russia, affecting Apple and other tech firms navigating authoritarian markets.

Share This Post: