Accusation: planned wear and tear
French judiciary investigates Apple
05/15/2023 9:51 p.m
A consumer protection organization accuses Apple of restricting iPhone repairs by unauthorized workshops. France’s judiciary then launched investigations against Apple. The accusation: planned wear and tear.
In France, the technology group Apple is again in the sights of the authorities on suspicion of targeted product wear and tear on its smartphones. As confirmed by the Paris public prosecutor’s office, investigations were launched against Apple in December for alleged misleading business practices and so-called planned obsolescence.
The consumer protection organization Hop accuses Apple of restricting the repair of iPhones by unauthorized workshops. 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 nature”.
Hop accuses Apple of linking the serial numbers of iPhones and the serial numbers of the individual parts inside. 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. Hop called on Apple to guarantee consumers the right to repair their 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.