ALBAWABA – Apple is reportedly about to be met with a lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice for allegedly breaking antitrust laws, as reported by Bloomberg, accusing the California-based tech giant of preventing competitors from utilizing the iPhone's hardware and software features.
Although the lawsuit's allegations are still unclear, it is anticipated that they will center on the iOS and App Store's alleged monopolistic dominance, expected to be filed against Apple in federal court after the department has already gone after Google for similar monopoly accusations, and The Federal Trade Commission suing Amazon and Meta for antitrust violations.
The Justice Department has sued Apple before for antitrust crimes three times in the last fourteen years, according to Bloomberg, however this is the first time the company has been charged with unlawfully preserving its dominating status.
Apple was earlier obligated to unlock the iPhone in the EU in order to allow alternate online marketplaces for apps, alternate payment methods, alternate web browser engines, and increased access for developers to hardware components like the NFC chip in order to comply with the recently established Digital Markets Act.
This month, Apple was fined €1.8 billion for preventing competitors in the music streaming market from providing lower prices, with the company stating that it is contesting the fine and that authorities were unable to find any "credible evidence of consumer harm."
