Apple fined $27 million for slowing down iPhones "intentionally"
Apple has been fined $27 million for slowing down iPhones, intentionally. The issue first surfaced in 2017 when a software update issued by the Cupertino giant was caught throttling the performance of older iPhones. Later, Apple admitted that it made the move intentionally, spurring a two-year-long French investigation leading to this fine. Here's all about it.
iOS 10.2.1 slowed down older iPhone models to prevent shutdowns
In late 2017, several iPhone owners reported the case of sloppy device performance after updating to iOS 10.2.1 (the latest version back then). Apple later announced that this is the effect of a 'feature' designed specifically for older iPhones. It claimed that update throttles the performance of old devices so that they do not shut down unexpectedly due to their degraded batteries.
No 'throttling' warning when the updates released
Even though Apple clarified the whole throttling situation, the answers came only when the users raised alarms, not when they installed those updates on their devices for the first time. Ideally, before releasing the updates, the company should have informed its customers that the releases would slow down their devices and that the problem could be fixed by simply getting the degraded battery replaced.
Fine from French regulator over lying by 'omission'
The decision of not informing customers is exactly what France's Directorate-General for Competition, Consumption and the Suppression of Fraud (DGCCRF) took the issue with. It conducted an investigation over the last two years and came to the conclusion that Apple was guilty of "misleading commercial practice by omission." And so, it slapped a €25 million ($27.1 million) fine on the company's face.
Apple has reportedly accepted to pay the fine
As AppleInsider reports, Apple has accepted the fine and agreed to put up a press release related to the whole matter on its website for a month. The company has drawn a lot of flak over this controversy and has already been fined by the Italian authorities. It was also hit by multiple lawsuits and a Department of Justice investigation over the same issue.
