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Apple is slapped with a ~US$12 million fine by Italian authorities

Apple's claims about its iPhones may not be entirely water-tight. (Source: Apple)
Apple's claims about its iPhones may not be entirely water-tight. (Source: Apple)
The Italian market-competition watchdog has reportedly fined Apple to the tune of €10 million, or nearly US$12 million. This action has resulted from what the body apparently views as “aggressive and misleading” advertising relating to iPhones and their water-resistant properties. This content may have been insufficient in its clarity in a way that may pose a risk to customer warranties.
Apple Business Fail iPhone Smartphone

The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM, or Italian competition authority) exists to safeguard against unfair market practices in the jurisdiction of Italy. It has reportedly taken action against the OEM Apple, which has resulted in a ~US$12 million sanction for the Cupertino giant. This is reportedly due to potentially misleading advertising that revolves around the company's flagship iPhones.

These mobile devices have been sold alongside claims of advanced water-resistance for a few years now. However, the AGCM has apparently taken issue with the fact that their maker may not uphold customer guarantees in the event the phones did become damaged due to exposure to liquids.

The authority has reportedly found that Apple's official material did not make it clear enough that these products could still be susceptible to liquids under certain conditions, thereby "tricking" customers into making a purchase decision based on incomplete information. The company has yet to respond to this statement.

Source(s)

Reuters

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 12 > Apple is slapped with a ~US$12 million fine by Italian authorities
Deirdre O'Donnell, 2020-12- 1 (Update: 2021-11-23)