Apple has again come under the scrutiny of European authorities: the French judiciary has initiated investigations against the US group on suspicion of targeted product wear.
Paris – Are iPhones sometimes intentionally designed in such a way that they break more quickly and consumers have to buy a new one? France’s judiciary apparently harbors this suspicion against the technology group Apple. The US company is again in the sights of the authorities because of suspected product wear and tear of its smartphones.
As the Paris prosecutor confirmed on Monday, it was already December Investigations against Apple over alleged deceptive business practices and so-called planned obsolescence. The consumer protection organization Hop accuses Apple of restricting the repair of iPhones by unauthorized workshops.
France: Consumer advocates filed a complaint
Hop had filed a complaint against Apple. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the anti-fraud authority is investigating the proceedings that have now become known. Hop’s consumer advocates hope that the procedure will sanction the US group’s so-called “serialization practices” and prove their “criminal character”.
Hop accuses Apple of iPhone serial numbers and to link the serial numbers of the individual parts contained therein. This gives Apple the ability to restrict iPhone repairs by unauthorized repair shops – or to remotely damage smartphones that were not repaired with original replacement parts. Apple France could not initially be reached for comment on the allegations.
France had already imposed fines on Apple
Hop called on Apple to guarantee consumers the right to repair its devices “in the spirit of a true circular economy”.
In February 2020, France had already fined Apple $25 million for deliberately throttling the performance of iPhones. At the beginning of 2018, the senior public prosecutor’s office initiated investigations into targeted product wear and tear against Apple following a complaint by Hop. Apple had admitted that it was intentionally reducing the performance of older iPhone models – but described this as a measure to extend the life of the devices. (lma/AFP/dpa)