Consumer rights group Which? has launched a £3 billion lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of breaching UK competition laws through its iCloud storage service. Which? claims that Apple unfairly “locked” consumers into paying for iCloud by making it challenging to use alternative storage services, thus reducing competition.
The lawsuit argues that Apple’s practices have led millions of UK customers to pay higher fees for iCloud storage, especially after they surpass the free 5GB storage limit provided to all Apple device users. Which? estimates that about 40 million UK Apple customers may be eligible for compensation, with potential payouts averaging £70 per person.
Which? bases its claim on the assertion that Apple’s approach limits consumer choice and unfairly forces customers to rely on its storage solutions. Apple, however, maintains that its customers are free to choose third-party storage alternatives and denies any anticompetitive practices.
This case is part of a broader movement to hold major tech companies accountable for market practices that potentially undermine fair competition, reflecting increasing global scrutiny of large technology firms. If successful, the lawsuit could lead to substantial payouts to UK Apple users and set a precedent for future cases against similar practices in the tech industry.
Is it time for bigtech to start to worry?
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Michael.Coyle@lawdit.co.uk
