The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly nearing the filing of a comprehensive antitrust case against Apple, potentially within the first half of this year, as per The New York Times. The investigation, said to be in its late stages, focuses on Apple’s control over both hardware and software services. It scrutinizes Apple’s “walled garden” approach, alleging that it has created obstacles for competitors and customers looking to switch to alternative products.
According to The New York Times report, the scope of the investigation has expanded beyond initial reports. It delves into various aspects, including the tight integration of the Apple Watch with iPhone services compared to rival wearables and the alleged restrictions on competing platforms accessing iMessage.
Executives from Beeper, involved in a public dispute with Apple over the blocking of iMessage integration on Android, have reportedly conversed with investigators. Tile, a company producing Bluetooth trackers predating the AirTag, is also said to have engaged with the DOJ. The agency is reported to have held discussions with representatives from banking and payment apps regarding Apple’s practice of preventing rivals from utilizing tap-to-pay functionality on the iPhone.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has reportedly engaged with investigators as well. Allegedly, Meta “encouraged” the Department of Justice (DOJ) to scrutinize Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) privacy tool during their discussions. The ATT feature, introduced in 2021, allows users to limit data collection by advertisers. Meta claimed in 2022 that this privacy tool could result in a financial impact of $10 billion for the company that year. According to The New York Times, investigators have also explored Apple’s share of revenue from digital purchases made on the iPhone, a matter that has been a point of contention for companies like Spotify, Epic Games, and Match Group in recent years.
The federal government is currently actively involved in antitrust cases against major tech companies. The DOJ has initiated two antitrust cases against Google, one related to search and another concerning advertising. Additionally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed lawsuits against both Meta and Amazon.
