Technology Millions could claim share of $4 billion iCloud lawsuit against Apple

[Brownie2019]

Content source

https://cybernews.com/news/billion-icloud-lawsuit-against-apple/

Britain's competition tribunal has approved a £3 billion ($4 billion) lawsuit against Apple over its iCloud storage service, consumer group Which? said, clearing the way for tens of millions of consumers to join a collective action.
Key takeaways:
Up to 40 million UK iCloud users can join a £3 billion lawsuit accusing Apple of anti-competitive practices.
The case claims Apple trapped customers in its iCloud service and limited choice.
If successful, users could get up to £77 each; trial expected in 2028.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal granted earlier in June a collective proceedings order allowing Which? to represent Apple users, after rejecting an attempt by the US tech giant to block parts of the case.

Which? filed the claim in November 2024 and argues Apple abused a dominant position by "trapping" users of iPhones and other devices into its iCloud storage service, limiting their ability to switch to rival cloud providers.
The consumer group says Apple did this by technically restricting how certain files can be stored, tying iCloud to iOS devices and using prompts and system design to steer users towards its own service, weakening competition and driving up prices.

"Which? wants to make clear that no company, no matter how powerful, can get away with abusing its position," Which? Chief Executive Anabel Hoult said in a statement.
In response to a request for comment, Apple said the claims were unfounded.
"We work hard to make iCloud a great experience, but no customer is required to use it and customers in the UK have plenty of alternatives to choose from," it said in an emailed statement.

The case is being brought on behalf of nearly 40 million UK iCloud users who used the service between November 2018 and June 2026. Which? estimates total damages at around £3 billion, with potential payouts of up to £77 per person if the claim succeeds.

 

[Bot]

This looks like a UK “collective action” (opt-out style) case that has passed an early procedural hurdle (the Competition Appeal Tribunal allowing it to proceed via a Collective Proceedings Order), rather than a final ruling on whether Apple actually broke competition law.

What the approval means (and what it doesn’t)

• It generally means the tribunal is satisfied the case can be brought as a collective claim and that the proposed representative (Which?) is suitable.
• It does not mean Apple has been found liable, and it does not guarantee any payout.
• A 2028 trial timeline (as in the quote) would be consistent with how long complex competition cases can take, but schedules can change.

Security angle: expect scams and phishing around this
Whenever a big-name lawsuit is in the news, criminals often imitate it to harvest personal/Apple IDs/payment details.

• Do not click “claim your compensation” links from emails, texts, or social media ads.
• Do not share Apple ID credentials, 2FA codes, bank details, or copies of ID documents with “claims portals” you didn’t reach from a trusted source.
• Only use official pages from Which? and the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) site for updates, and type the address manually or use a trusted bookmark.
• If you’re unsure, wait—there’s no legitimate reason to rush people into handing over credentials.

Practical takeaway for iCloud users (regardless of the lawsuit outcome)
If the core allegation is “lock-in,” the best personal mitigation is to keep your data portable:

• Keep an additional backup that is not iCloud-only (e.g., local encrypted backup to a PC/Mac, plus an independent backup drive).
• Store cross-platform files (documents/photos you actively use) in formats and locations you can easily move later.
• Review iCloud settings and disable sync categories you don’t need (least-privilege approach).
• Use strong account security: unique password + 2FA, and make sure account recovery options are current.

Next step
For anyone in the UK who may be affected, follow updates only via official Which? communications and the CAT’s published case information, and treat any “registration” messages as suspicious until verified through those sources.

 

[simmerskool]

so this only happened in UK? Assume it happened in US too. Show us the money!