2024-03-21 18:45:29
Apple is facing a lawsuit from the US federal prosecutor. The tech company is accused of exploiting its dominance.
The US federal prosecutor’s office has filed a far-reaching indictment against the technology company Apple for allegedly forming an illegal monopoly on the iPhone, reports the Wall Street Journal. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who is also the country’s top prosecutor, filed the lawsuit in federal court in the state of New Jersey, his ministry announced on Thursday.
The government’s antitrust complaint accuses Apple of using its control over the iPhone to prevent rivals from offering innovative services such as digital wallets and limiting the functionality of hardware products that compete with Apple’s own devices, according to the report. The lawsuit also claims that Apple is making it harder for users to switch to devices that don’t use the Apple operating system, such as Android smartphones.
Apple sees its identity threatened
“Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies violate antitrust laws,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Apple said it would “vigorously” defend itself against the lawsuit.
“This lawsuit threatens our identity and the principles that define Apple products in highly competitive markets,” an Apple spokesman said in a statement. “If the lawsuit succeeds, it would prevent us from developing the type of technology that people expect from Apple – where hardware, software and services overlap.”
Apple Number 4 there Tech-Giant
The case against Apple is the last that the US antitrust authorities have brought against the four big tech giants. The antitrust watchdogs have also filed anti-monopoly lawsuits against Amazon, Google and Meta Platforms.
Apple has already faced global calls to open up its tightly controlled iPhone software ecosystem. European law forced the company to comply with strict new competition rules for search engines, app stores and online marketplaces.
The lawsuit against Apple has been in the works for years. An investigation began in 2019 but only gained momentum under the Biden administration after the appointment of the top antitrust official, Jonathan Kanter, in 2021.