Apple Sued £2 Billion Over App Tracking Rules Abuse

Apple is facing a £2 billion lawsuit in London over its app tracking rules. The iPhone maker is accused of abusing its market power by imposing stricter restrictions on third-party app developers than on its own services.

The lawsuit was filed at London's Competition Appeal Tribunal and follows years of regulatory scrutiny over Apple's App Tracking Transparency feature, which launched in 2021.

According to the lawyers bringing the lawsuit, the feature resulted in 'very significant harm' to businesses that depend on Apple as a gatekeeper. Ann Pope, a former senior official with Britain's Competition and Markets Authority, said: 'This action is important to protect the rights of British businesses that depend on Apple, to ensure that the rules that Apple applies are fair, and to compensate the losses that British companies have suffered.'

Apple has previously stated that its App Tracking Transparency provides 'important privacy protections.' The feature has been under investigation by regulators across Europe, including in Germany where Apple agreed to changes to rules on how app developers can use personal data for targeted advertising.