Apple fined by France for slowing down iPhones.

Photo by Marc-André Julien on Unsplash

France has fined Apple for slowing down older iPhones with a software update, the fine was not particularly for pushing software updates that will slow down iPhones but because Apple did not informed their customers beforehand that installing the update will slow down the iPhones.

Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Enforcement (DGCCRF) investigated upon the request from Halt Planned Obsolescence (HOP) association, Paris Prosecutor's Office ordered the investigation by DGCCRF, which finalized the wrong doing of Apple.

Apple faced severe backlash over the issue when it brought into the light by some Reddit users, It led to Apple Apologizing and accepting that it indeed tried to slow down iPhones with a software update, but in Apple's defense they said that this process is to avoid sudden shutdowns of the iPhones due to older batteries.

Apple gave discounts for battery replacements to it's users to solve the issue. The fine is an amount of 25 million euros($27.4 million), Apple agreed to pay the fine and agreed to publish a visible press release about the fine and the issue on their France website for a month.

The updates that slowed down the iPhone 6, 6s, 7 and iPhone SE are iOS 10.2.1 and 11.2. Co-founders Laetitia Vasseur and Samuel Sauvage of HOP, the company that requested the investigation said to France 24 that "This is a historic victory against scandalous ready-to-rubbish practices, for consumers as well as the environment"

"Our goal has always been to create secure products appreciated by our clients, and making iPhones that last as long as possible is an important part of that" Apple commented on the issue, Apple faced allegations on patent infringement earlier this year and has to pay $85 million to WiLan.