⚖️ Apple Fined Over Payments to Okko
The UK regulator OFSI has fined Apple’s European division (Apple Distribution International Ltd) £390,000 for violating sanctions against Russia.
In June and July 2022, Apple transferred more than £635,000 to the streaming platform Okko. At the time, the Russian service was already under UK sanctions. Apple voluntarily disclosed these payments to the authorities; the transactions were carried out through local banks.
In its defense, the tech giant stated that it relied on third-party partners responsible for compliance and counterparty checks. However, OFSI emphasized that the use of external consultants does not relieve a company of ultimate responsibility for complying with sanctions.
Apple said it takes the situation “extremely seriously.”
