Apple faces $2.7 billion class action lawsuit in the UK as ATT “double-standard” tracking mechanism is accused of unfair competition
According to a report by Reuters on September 3, Apple is facing a class action lawsuit in the UK seeking 2 billion pounds (about $2.7 billion). The case was brought by a group of app developers and was filed on Thursday with the London Competition Appeal Tribunal.
The dispute centers on Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature introduced in 2021. Apple has positioned the tool as a privacy-protecting measure, giving users the choice to decide whether to allow apps to track individuals’ activity data across apps and websites.
However, the plaintiffs’ core allegation is that this mechanism imposes stricter constraints on third-party developers, while Apple’s own advertising-related services are not subject to the same standards—effectively allowing Apple to secure a competitive advantage for its advertising business.
The lawsuit is led by Ann Pope, a former senior official of the UK Competition and Markets Authority. In a statement, she said Apple’s policies have caused serious harm to businesses that rely on its platform.
The action is intended to protect the legal rights of UK-based companies and to ensure platform rules are implemented fairly. Pope also hopes to help businesses recover economic losses that have already been incurred.
In response to the allegations, Apple said the purpose of the ATT feature is “to provide users with a simple way to control whether an app is allowed to track their activity,” and stated that Apple itself “is subject to exactly the same requirements as all developers.”
Yet the company’s explanation has not quelled ongoing scrutiny from regulators. Since its launch, the ATT feature has become the focus of investigations by regulators in multiple European countries.
In Germany, the Federal Cartel Office previously accused Apple of abusing its dominant market position. Apple agreed last month to modify the rules on how app developers can use personal data for targeted advertising.
Meanwhile, regulators in France, Italy, Poland, and other countries have also launched investigations into the App Tracking Transparency framework.
Taken together, antitrust pressure on Apple around ATT rules across multiple countries is rising in parallel. This $2.7 billion lawsuit not only involves potentially massive damages, but may also force Apple to re-examine the balance between privacy protection and competition on platforms.
#苹果面临反垄断诉讼
According to a report by Reuters on September 3, Apple is facing a class action lawsuit in the UK seeking 2 billion pounds (about $2.7 billion). The case was brought by a group of app developers and was filed on Thursday with the London Competition Appeal Tribunal.
The dispute centers on Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) feature introduced in 2021. Apple has positioned the tool as a privacy-protecting measure, giving users the choice to decide whether to allow apps to track individuals’ activity data across apps and websites.
However, the plaintiffs’ core allegation is that this mechanism imposes stricter constraints on third-party developers, while Apple’s own advertising-related services are not subject to the same standards—effectively allowing Apple to secure a competitive advantage for its advertising business.
The lawsuit is led by Ann Pope, a former senior official of the UK Competition and Markets Authority. In a statement, she said Apple’s policies have caused serious harm to businesses that rely on its platform.
The action is intended to protect the legal rights of UK-based companies and to ensure platform rules are implemented fairly. Pope also hopes to help businesses recover economic losses that have already been incurred.
In response to the allegations, Apple said the purpose of the ATT feature is “to provide users with a simple way to control whether an app is allowed to track their activity,” and stated that Apple itself “is subject to exactly the same requirements as all developers.”
Yet the company’s explanation has not quelled ongoing scrutiny from regulators. Since its launch, the ATT feature has become the focus of investigations by regulators in multiple European countries.
In Germany, the Federal Cartel Office previously accused Apple of abusing its dominant market position. Apple agreed last month to modify the rules on how app developers can use personal data for targeted advertising.
Meanwhile, regulators in France, Italy, Poland, and other countries have also launched investigations into the App Tracking Transparency framework.
Taken together, antitrust pressure on Apple around ATT rules across multiple countries is rising in parallel. This $2.7 billion lawsuit not only involves potentially massive damages, but may also force Apple to re-examine the balance between privacy protection and competition on platforms.
#苹果面临反垄断诉讼
