NOS News•today, 08:22
Two Dutch claim organizations have started a case against Apple because the company allegedly deliberately made their phones slower. Consumers who have purchased an iPhone 6, 7 and SE from Apple can register with the organization. The organizations want Apple to compensate customers for “damage due to deliberate delay of the iPhone 6, 7 and SE.” The devices were released between 2016 and 2018.
According to ConsumerClaim, Apple has offered software updates that reduce the performance of the phones. The updates are also said to have concealed an underlying battery defect.
“As a result, the iPhones became slower and no longer worked properly. Apple did not inform its users about this,” writes Consumer Claim, which started the case together with the Aequitas Advocacy Foundation.
Damage due to reduced speed
The director of ConsumerClaim says that users have been harmed by the reduced speed, functionality and quality of the iPhones. “Many consumers were forced to replace the battery or even their entire iPhone prematurely.”
The claim organizations hold Apple liable for this and want compensation of up to 100 euros per device for victims. The compensation may be higher for victims who have replaced their iPhone.
In the US, Apple has already settled a total of approximately 572 million euros in this case and has paid out 86 euros per victim. A fine of 25 million euros was imposed in France. There are also mass claims against Apple in other European countries.
