Apple fined £25M for slowing down old iPhones

Tech giant Apple fined 25 million euros for deliberately slowing down older iPhone models and for failing to tell users that software updates could slow down older devices.

Apple fined by France’s competition and fraud watchdog, which found customers not warned about the measure.

The watchdog DGCCRF said, “iPhone users were not informed that installing iOS updates (10.2.1 and 11.2) could slow down their devices”.

Apple, which in 2017 admitted to the practice, said it had resolved the issue with the regulator.

Critics accused the firm of surreptitiously forcing users to buy phones sooner than necessary.

However, the outcry forced Apple to upgrade its software and offer steep discounts on battery replacements.

French prosecutors opened an inquiry in January 2018 at the request of the Halt Planned Obsolescence (HOP) association.

“This is a historic victory against scandalous ready-to-rubbish practices, for consumers as well as the environment,” HOP co-founders said.

They added that they will consider filing claims for additional damages for iPhone clients.

Apple said it welcomed the accord with the DGCCRF, which will allow it to avoid a potentially embarrassing public trial.

“Our goal has always been to create secure products appreciated by our clients, and making iPhones that last as long as possible is an important part of that.”