DOJ Gears Up to Take On Apple in Major Antitrust Lawsuit
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is gearing up to potentially file a major antitrust case against Apple in the near future, according to a report from The New York Times. The investigation has reached its final stages, honing in on Apple’s dominance in both hardware and software services. The company’s “walled garden” approach has come under scrutiny for allegedly stifling competition and making it difficult for consumers to switch to alternative products.
Expanding on previous reports, the investigation now includes a closer look at how the Apple Watch is tightly integrated with iPhone services compared to rival wearables. Additionally, concerns have been raised about how Apple restricts competing platforms from accessing iMessage.
Key players in the tech industry, such as Beeper and Tile, have reportedly engaged with DOJ investigators. Beeper’s public clash with Apple over iMessage integration on Android and Tile’s long-standing Bluetooth tracker business have drawn attention to Apple’s restrictive practices. Banking and payment app representatives have also voiced concerns about Apple’s limitations on tap-to-pay functionality for rivals.
Further complicating matters, Meta has thrown its hat into the ring by urging the DOJ to examine Apple’s App Tracking Transparency tool. Launched in 2021, this feature allows users to limit data collection by advertisers, potentially impacting Meta’s revenue projections. The scrutiny extends to Apple’s revenue sharing model for digital purchases on the iPhone, a contentious issue for companies like Spotify, Epic Games, and Match Group.
Amidst this backdrop, the federal government is juggling multiple antitrust cases involving Big Tech giants. The DOJ is pursuing antitrust actions against Google for both search and advertising practices, while the FTC has initiated legal action against Meta and Amazon. The tech industry landscape is evolving rapidly, with regulatory scrutiny intensifying on multiple fronts.
