The US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, along with 16 state attorneys general, lodged an antitrust lawsuit against tech giant Apple. This action marks the federal government's biggest effort to confront the company's widespread influence, given its role in providing iPhones to over a billion individuals, the media has reported.
According to the government's argument, Apple has breached antitrust regulations by prohibiting other companies from providing applications that directly compete with Apple products, such as its digital wallets, says a report by New York Times (NYT). This restriction could potentially reduce the iPhone's value. The government further alleged that Apple's policies adversely affect both consumers and smaller companies that offer competing services. These claims are outlined in excerpts from the lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.
This development comes after years of criticism and allegations from critics. The lawsuit against Apple has been filed after critics long accused Apple of stifling competition through its App Store terms, imposing high fees, and maintaining a "walled-garden" approach to its hardware and software. While Apple is renowned for its user-friendly technology, it achieves this by tightly controlling, and sometimes restricting, the interactions third-party companies can have with its products and services.
Allegations are there that the iPhone maker may grant preferential treatment to its own products, providing them with better access and features compared to competitors. However, Apple has vehemently denied these allegations and has stated its intention to contest them in court.
This legal action against Apple underscores a bipartisan consensus on the necessity to rein in Big Tech's dominance. Notably, during the Trump administration, both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initiated investigations into major tech players including Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple.
Moreover, Apple's limitations on third-party access to crucial iPhone components, such as the contactless payment chip, have been a subject of contention. The exclusive reliance on Apple's own payment service, Apple Pay, has drawn criticism from industry players.
Apple's defence has often revolved around privacy and security concerns, justifying its control over user data and hardware accessibility. However, critics argue that such measures stifle competition and innovation.
The tech behemoth has also faced backlash over its iMessage platform, accessible solely on Apple devices, allegedly disadvantaging communication with Android users by compressing media files. In response, Apple recently announced support for RCS, a messaging protocol promoted by Google for enhanced cross-platform communication.