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)
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.
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 mobiledevices 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.
Deirdre O Donnell - Senior Tech Writer - 6328 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.
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