UK tribunal clears $4 billion lawsuit against Apple over iCloud services

Britain’s Competition Appeal Tribunal has granted approval for a £3 billion ($4 billion) class action lawsuit against Apple over its iCloud storage services, allowing the case to proceed on behalf of millions of UK consumers, according to a Reuters report.The claim has been brought by consumer advocacy group Which?, which alleges that Apple abused its dominant position by restricting competition in cloud storage and steering users toward its iCloud service.The tribunal issued a collective proceedings order, enabling Which? to represent a broad class of claimants, potentially covering around 40 million Apple users in the UK who used iCloud services between November 2018 and June 2026.According to the claim, Apple designed its ecosystem—particularly across iPhones and iPads—in a manner that favours iCloud over third-party storage providers, limiting user choice and making it more difficult to switch to alternative services.Which? has alleged that Apple relied on a combination of technical restrictions and system prompts to direct users toward paid iCloud subscriptions, effectively creating a situation in which customers felt compelled to use Apple’s cloud storage.The consumer group argues that this conduct reduced competition in the market and resulted in higher prices for cloud storage services, ultimately harming consumers.Commenting on the ruling, Anabel Hoult, Chief Executive of Which?, said the decision marked a key milestone in the case. She stated that "no company, no matter how powerful, can get away with abusing its position,” adding that the outcome brings the group closer to securing compensation for affected consumers.If the claim succeeds, total damages could reach up to £3 billion, with individual payouts estimated at up to £77 per consumer, although final amounts would depend on the tribunal’s determination.Apple has denied the allegations, maintaining that its users are not required to use iCloud and that there are multiple third-party cloud storage alternatives available. The company has also indicated that it will vigorously defend the lawsuit.The case was originally filed in November 2024, and the tribunal’s ruling now allows it to move forward toward trial. Proceedings are expected to continue over the coming years, with a final resolution likely to take place after full hearings on the merits of the claimAlso read: Apple investigating cyber incident at Tata Electronics after ransomware group’s leak claims: Report