Your current location:HOME >politics >U.S. Justice Department sues Apple for alleged monopoly in smartphone markets 正文
TIME:2024-05-07 15:04:47 Source: Internet compilationEdit:politics
WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Justice Department, along with 16 other state and district
WASHINGTON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Justice Department, along with 16 other state and district attorneys general, on Thursday filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of illegally maintaining a monopoly over smartphones.
"Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law," Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a press conference in Washington, D.C.
"We allege that Apple has employed a strategy that relies on exclusionary, anticompetitive conduct that hurts both consumers and developers," said Garland. "Consumers should not have to pay higher prices because companies break the law."
The attorney general said Apple carries out its exclusionary, anticompetitive conduct in two principal ways: First, Apple imposes contractual restrictions and fees that limit the features and functionality that developers can offer iPhone users.
Second, Apple selectively restricts access to the points of connection between third-party apps and the iPhone's operating system, degrading the functionality of non-Apple apps and accessories.
Additionally, iPhone users perceive rival smartphones as being lower quality because the experience of messaging friends and family who do not own iPhones is worse -- "even though Apple is the one responsible for breaking cross-platform messaging," he said.
Apple has justified its practice of regulating downloads through the App Store, arguing that it is essential for maintaining the iPhone's security by minimizing the risk of viruses and fraudulent activities.
Tech giants have been facing growing scrutiny in recent years. After a 16-month investigation into Apple, Amazon, Facebook (now Meta) and Google, the antitrust subcommittee under the House Judiciary Committee released a report in October 2020, arguing that the four Big Tech companies enjoy monopoly power and need more government regulation.
The lawsuit against Apple marks the latest action taken by U.S. antitrust authorities against the "Big Four". Antitrust regulators have also filed antimonopoly lawsuits against the other three.
(Editor:Fu Bo)
Giants rookie Mason Black makes MLB debut in Philadelphia against childhood favorite Phillies2024-05-07 14:34
Feature: Asian Americans pledge to fight discrimination, hate in U.S.2024-05-07 14:23
Domestic terrorism, political violence seen as top threat to U.S. interests in 2024: survey2024-05-07 13:49
161 confirmed dead, 103 missing in Japan's quake2024-05-07 13:47
US and Philippine forces stage combat drills near strategic channel off southern Taiwan2024-05-07 13:46
Coyotes sale to Utah Jazz owner expected next week, Arizona to get expansion team, AP source says2024-05-07 13:26
Arab states condemn U.S. for vetoing UNSC resolution on Gaza ceasefire2024-05-07 13:08
Former Kentucky swimmers sue ex2024-05-07 13:00
Man dragged by bear following fatal car crash, Massachusetts state police say2024-05-07 12:34
Biden touts progress on economy, immigration despite wide disapproval2024-05-07 12:31
Baby Reindeer knocked off Netflix's top spot by new 'must2024-05-07 14:59
Mali, Burkina and Niger announce their withdrawal from ECOWAS2024-05-07 14:56
Former Kentucky swimmers sue ex2024-05-07 14:44
Olympic track uniforms spark online debate about who designed them and why they're so skimpy2024-05-07 13:32
Woman reveals horror of being sexually abused by her cousin's fiancé, 26, when she was 12 years old2024-05-07 13:10
Belgrade celebrates Chinese New Year with fireworks, dragon dance2024-05-07 12:59
Alaska judge finds correspondence school reimbursements unconstitutional2024-05-07 12:44
Domestic terrorism, political violence seen as top threat to U.S. interests in 2024: survey2024-05-07 12:42
Powerful ethnic armed group in western Myanmar claims to capture base and hundreds of soldiers2024-05-07 12:39
Triston Casas hits 22024-05-07 12:20