Apple "misled people" and slowed devices "by up to 58%": Activist files £750 million lawsuit against Apple over throttling

Back in 2017, we reported that Apple had been allegedly throttling older iPhone models with a software update. While not immediately, Apple later admitted to throttling the devices. According to the company, the controversial action was aimed at protecting users’ phones from random shutdowns rather than planned obsolescence.

Justin Gutmann has now filed a lawsuit with the Competition Appeals Tribunal against Apple over the way Cupertino handled the matter. If the tribunal decides the case against Apple, the company is looking at a potential fine of more than £750 million distributed among close to 25 million users who were affected.

Per Gutmann, Apple failed to disclose the throttling to users beforehand because the company wanted to hide the inability of old iPhone batteries to keep up with the new requirements that the manufacturer had placed on them.

Gutmann claims that “Instead of doing the honorable and legal thing by their customers and offering a free replacement, repair service or compensation, Apple instead misled people by concealing a tool in software updates that slowed their devices by up to 58%.”

The activist wants compensation for iPhone users in the UK that were affected by Apple’s decisions. He also hopes that, if the case is a win, “dominant companies will re-evaluate their business models and refrain from this kind of conduct.”

This is not the first time that Apple has had to face a lawsuit rising from its controversial throttling practices. Both Italy and the US have previously fined Apple €10 million and US$310 million respectively in similar cases.

Buy Apple iPhone 12 64 GB (Renewed Premium) on Amazon