UK Apple iCloud Users Gain Green Light for £3 Billion Class Action Lawsuit
Consumer group Which? has won permission to proceed with a lawsuit alleging Apple abused its market dominance to overcharge users for iCloud storage.
Millions of Apple users in the United Kingdom may be eligible to claim a share of a potential £3 billion settlement following a legal victory for consumer group Which?. The Competition Appeal Tribunal has granted the group permission to pursue a class action lawsuit against Apple, alleging the technology giant abused its dominant position in the market by overcharging for iCloud storage services.
Which? claims that since 2018, Apple has effectively locked users into its ecosystem, encouraging them to pay for increased iCloud storage beyond the free tier to back up essential data such as photos, videos, messages, and contacts. The group argues that Apple's pricing for storage, which ranges from 99 pence per month for 50GB to £54.99 per month for 12TB, is inflated due to this anti-competitive practice. Apple maintains that it does not give rival storage services full access to its devices for security reasons, a factor that also contributes to iCloud offering more features than third-party alternatives.
Anabel Hoult, chief executive of Which?, stated that the ruling brings consumers one step closer to obtaining the redress they are owed. She emphasized that the decision sends a strong message that no company, regardless of its size, can evade consequences for abusing its market power.
The lawsuit was initially filed by Which? in November 2024. The case is not expected to go to trial until October 2028, and an Apple spokesperson rejected the assertion that its practices are anti-competitive, noting that many customers utilize third-party storage alternatives.