Apple Faces USD 2.7 Bn Lawsuit in UK Over App Privacy Feature
UK app developers file a GBP billion (USD 2.7 Bn / INR 23,900 Cr) lawsuit against Apple over its App Tracking Transparency rules.
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Apple is facing a GBP 2 billion (USD 2.7 billion, roughly INR 23,900 crore) lawsuit in the UK, filed by app developers who accuse the company of giving its own advertising business an unfair advantage through stricter privacy rules imposed on third parties.
The claim, filed at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal by law firm Hausfeld, centres on Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) system, introduced in 2021. ATT requires apps to seek user consent via a pop-up before tracking activity across other apps and websites; if users decline, the app loses access to data needed for targeted ads.
The case is led by Ann Pope, a former senior official at the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. The claimants argue the system was designed and implemented without proper consultation, placing stricter requirements on third-party developers than on Apple’s own services.
ATT has also drawn scrutiny in France, Germany, Italy, Romania and Poland. Apple was previously fined GBP 150 million in France and nearly GBP 100 million in Italy over related complaints.
An Apple spokesperson said the feature was built “to give users a simple way to control whether apps have permission to track their activity across other companies’ apps and websites,” adding that ATT applies equally to all developers, including Apple. The company disputes the allegations. The tribunal must first certify the case before it can proceed as a collective action.
Apple is facing a GBP 2 billion (USD 2.7 billion, roughly INR 23,900 crore) lawsuit in the UK, filed by app developers who accuse the company of giving its own advertising business an unfair advantage through stricter privacy rules imposed on third parties.
The claim, filed at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal by law firm Hausfeld, centres on Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) system, introduced in 2021. ATT requires apps to seek user consent via a pop-up before tracking activity across other apps and websites; if users decline, the app loses access to data needed for targeted ads.
The case is led by Ann Pope, a former senior official at the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. The claimants argue the system was designed and implemented without proper consultation, placing stricter requirements on third-party developers than on Apple’s own services.
ATT has also drawn scrutiny in France, Germany, Italy, Romania and Poland. Apple was previously fined GBP 150 million in France and nearly GBP 100 million in Italy over related complaints.
An Apple spokesperson said the feature was built “to give users a simple way to control whether apps have permission to track their activity across other companies’ apps and websites,” adding that ATT applies equally to all developers, including Apple. The company disputes the allegations. The tribunal must first certify the case before it can proceed as a collective action.
