Apple loses bid to narrow UK iCloud lock-in lawsuit
Updated
Updated · MacRumors · May 7
Apple loses bid to narrow UK iCloud lock-in lawsuit
15 articles · Updated · MacRumors · May 7
The Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled 2-1 that the £3 billion claim can cover paying and non-paying iCloud users, with about 40 million UK consumers included unless they opt out.
Consumer group Which? says Apple used iOS to favour iCloud and restrict rival cloud providers; the trial will decide whether Apple abused a dominant market position.
The case tests a novel "forgone consumer surplus" damages theory for users priced out of subscriptions, with Which? estimating average compensation of about £70 if it succeeds.
Could a UK lawsuit force Apple to pay millions to users who never even bought its iCloud service?
Is this £3 billion legal battle the beginning of the end for Apple's profitable 'walled garden' ecosystem?
Apple’s £3 Billion UK iCloud Legal Battles: Antitrust Claims and Encryption Privacy Erosion
Overview
In 2026, a UK tribunal allowed a £3 billion class-action lawsuit against Apple to proceed, representing 40 million iCloud users and broadening the case's impact. This lawsuit, filed by consumer group Which? in 2024, accuses Apple of anti-competitive practices by locking users into its iCloud ecosystem. Meanwhile, the UK government demanded access to encrypted iCloud backups, prompting Apple to remove its Advanced Data Protection feature for UK users, weakening their privacy by shifting to a less secure data protection standard. These moves sparked global privacy concerns and warnings that such actions could encourage similar demands in other countries, while the lawsuit may set a precedent for future global antitrust cases.