The UK consumer rights organization ‘Which?’ has filed a £3 billion compensation claim against Apple, arguing that the tech giant violates competition laws by prioritizing its iCloud cloud storage services and effectively locking users into paying “rip-off” prices.
According to Which?, Apple’s iOS monopoly over its operating systems prevents fair competition in the cloud storage market, forcing users to pay for iCloud when their data exceeds the 5GB free storage limit. The lawsuit, filed in the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), accuses Apple of monopolizing cloud storage for iOS users, which prevents them from using alternative services and raises consumer costs.
Apple responded to the lawsuit, denying claims of anticompetitive practices and noting that users have access to third-party storage providers. The company also claims that many of its customers opt for alternatives and that iCloud pricing aligns with industry standards.
The UK class action lawsuit follows a similar suit filed in the U.S. in March, which also accused Apple of monopolizing the cloud storage market. As the UK suit proceeds, Which? encourages Apple to resolve the matter by offering refunds to customers and opening iOS to other cloud services.
If the CAT approves the case, Which? will represent affected consumers in a collective lawsuit, potentially setting a precedent for class action competition claims in the UK.
