WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The government is going after tech giant Apple.
The Department of Justice just announced a lawsuit against the company for monopolizing the smartphone market.
This landmark antitrust case accuses Apple of illegal conduct that harms both competitors and consumers.
The Department of Justice and 16 states allege that Apple violates federal law.
“Apple has remained in power not because of its dominance, but because of its illegal xenophobic behavior,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Attorney General Merrick Garland claims that Apple manipulates technology to undermine its competitors, crushing innovation and allowing Apple to squeeze more money from iPhone buyers. It is claimed that there is.
“Consumers shouldn't have to pay higher prices just because a company breaks the law,” Garland said.
Apple says the lawsuit is wrong on the facts and the law, and NetChoice's attorney Carl Szabo agrees.
“It's not about protecting consumers. It's about the government's increasing power and weaponization of antitrust law against companies it may not like,” Szabo said.
Garland said the lawsuit aims to create a freer and fairer technology market.
“Enforcing the law protects consumers from higher prices and fewer choices. That is the Department of Justice's legal obligation.”
Szabo believes the Justice Department's lawsuit could hurt innovation and hurt the iPhone's popularity.
“They want us all to have the stupidest cell phone and somehow claim it's pro-consumer even though it's never consumer-grade,” Szabo said. added.
This is just the latest antitrust attack by the Biden administration, which is also suing Google and Amazon over alleged monopolies.
This lawsuit is likely to drag on for years, and Apple has already promised to fight.
