Washington – The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and multiple state & district attorneys general announced the filing of an antitrust complaint against Apple, accusing the company of making it difficult for competitors to access hardware and software features and alleging exclusionary practices involving Apple smartphones. In the past, Apple has noted that limiting third parties access to user data is part of its privacy protections for users.
The lawsuit comes as U.S. authorities increasingly divert from traditional antitrust principles and the consumer welfare standard to target tech companies and consumer-favorite digital products and services.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association has advocated for sound competition and consumer protection principles that support innovation in tech for over 50 years.
The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Matt Schruers:
“U.S. antitrust law protects consumers from harmful practices, but this complaint takes aim at design choices that have produced a product beloved by consumers. Consumers have ample hardware and software options to choose from and easily move to alternatives if they prefer different features. The DOJ’s complaint, if successful, could prevent Apple from offering consumers the unique products and integrated services they love.”
