Apple Faces £3 Billion Class-Action Lawsuit Over iCloud Storage Pricing in the UK
Apple is facing a £3 billion ($4 billion) class-action lawsuit from a consumer advocacy group accusing the company of overcharging millions of British customers for iCloud storage services.
If the case succeeds, the payout could be around £70 per affected customer, covering 40 million people who have used and paid for Apple’s iCloud storage since October 2015.
The consumer group, Which?, claims that Apple has forced users into paying “exorbitant prices” for digital storage by making iCloud the default and often only practical option for backing up data on iPhones and other Apple devices. Which? argues that Apple’s high fees for expanded storage leave users with few alternatives, creating a “pay up or lose out” situation for those needing more than the limited free storage Apple offers.
Which? has hired an international law firm to handle the case, marking one of the most high-profile legal challenges Apple has faced in the UK.
Apple, however, denies the allegations and intends to “vigorously defend” itself in court.
This lawsuit follows a similar case filed in the US in March, where plaintiffs raised concerns about iCloud pricing practices. Though that case is still ongoing, it has increased scrutiny of Apple’s pricing model on both sides of the Atlantic.
The case highlights growing concerns in Europe and the US about the potential for tech companies to abuse their market positions.
