Mike Peterson
Apple is the target of a multi-state consumer protection investigation, according to leaked documents uncovered by a technology watchdog group, though details are murky.
The Cupertino tech giant is already under antitrust scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe, and has been in the spotlight by consumer protection groups in recent years.
A new report from Axios on Thursday indicates that multiple U.S. states are currently investigating Apple for potentially deceiving customers. There are currently no exact details on the probe, however.
Per a document uncovered by technology watchdog Tech Transparency Project, the Texas attorney general may file a lawsuit against Apple for violating the state's deceptive trade practices law. That complaint would be in connection with a current multi-state investigation.
Originally, the Texas Consumer Protection Division "initiated this investigation for enforcement purposes. If violations are uncovered, CPD will initiate enforcement proceedings. Accordingly, the OAG anticipates litigation in this matter," the uncovered documents read.
It isn't clear what the basis of the allegations are. Texas' consumer protection law bars policies that are deemed false, deceptive or misleading.
Neither Apple nor the Texas AG responded to requests for comment from Axios.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to testify in a U.S. House Judiciary Committee meeting on July 27 as part of a broader probe investigating the market dominance of major technology companies.
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12 Comments
That’s why America cannot compete Face to face, tech to tech with other multi national tech particularly Asian giants. Our tech firms if becomes so successful they Are being accused of anti-competitive. They did not get to this success with out trials and failures, .. well then others can do the same, why not???
Deceiving customers???? That’s normal business practices for almost every company, state and federal government agencies along with our current president (well, most presidents) and most lawyers!
I wonder if in private when there is no chance of being overheard that the top Apple executives say to each other that they wish Apple Park would have been built in a country outside of the US and EU.
American election season is in full swing with all the bluster and faux outrage electoral hopefuls can muster.