Apple sued by Which? on using iCloud – with potential payout for 40 million UK customers | Scientific, climate and technology news Aitrend

Consumer rights group Which? is suing Apple for £3 billion over the way it rolls out iCloud.

If the trial is successful, around 40 million Apple customers in the UK may be entitled to payment.

The lawsuit claims that Apple, which controls the iOS operating systems, broke UK competition law by giving preferential treatment to its iCloud storage, effectively “trapping” customers with Apple devices into using it. use.

He also claims the company overcharged those customers by stifling competition.

The rights group says Apple encouraged users to sign up for iCloud for storing photos, videos and other data, while making it difficult to use alternative providers.

Which? claims that Apple does not allow customers to store or back up any data on their phone with a third-party provider, arguing that this violates competition law.

The consumer rights group says that once iOS users sign up for iCloud, they must pay for the service once their photos, notes, messages and other data exceed the free 5GB limit.

“By presenting this claim, which one? This shows big companies like Apple that they can’t rip off UK consumers without facing repercussions,” said Anabel Hoult, chief executive of Which?.

“Taking this legal action means we can help consumers get the relief they are owed, deter similar behavior in the future, and create a better, more competitive market.”

Apple “rejects” the allegations and will defend itself

Apple “rejects” the idea that its customers are tied to the use of iCloud and told Sky News it would “vigorously” defend itself.

“Apple believes in providing choices to our customers,” a spokesperson said.

“Our users are not required to use iCloud, and many rely on a wide range of third-party alternatives for data storage. Plus, we work hard to make transferring data as easy as possible, whether to iCloud or another service.

“We reject any suggestion that our iCloud practices are anti-competitive and will vigorously defend against any legal claims to the contrary.”

It also said that almost half of its customers don’t use iCloud and that its prices are in line with other cloud storage providers.

How much could UK Apple customers receive if the lawsuit is successful?

The lawsuit will represent all UK Apple customers who have used iCloud services since October 1, 2015 – those who do not wish to be included will have to opt out.

However, if consumers live abroad but are otherwise eligible – for example because they lived in the UK and used iCloud but then moved – they can also join.

The consumer rights group estimates that individual consumers could have to pay an average of £70, depending on how long they paid for services during that period.

Apple faces similar lawsuit in the United Stateswhere the US Department of Justice accuses the company of locking down its iPhone ecosystem to create a monopoly.

Apple said the lawsuit was “factually and legally erroneous” and that it would vigorously defend itself against it.

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The battles of big tech

It is the latest in a series of challenges that major technology companies like Apple, Google and Samsung face due to anti-competitive practices.

Most notably, a landmark case in the US earlier this year saw a judge rule that Google has an illegal monopoly in the internet search market.

The company is now facing a second antitrust lawsuit and may be forced to spin off parts of its business.

Learn more: Google risks being broken up

And in December last year, a judge declared Google’s Android app store a monopoly in a case brought by a private gaming company.

“Now that five companies control the entire internet economy, it’s really necessary for people to fight back and really put pressure on the government,” William Fitzgerald, of tech campaign organization The Worker Agency, told Sky News.

“That’s why we have governments; holding companies to account, actually enforcing laws.