Apple is facing a £2 billion ($2.7 billion) lawsuit in London, initiated by app developers who allege that the company’s app tracking rules unfairly disadvantage third-party applications. The lawsuit, filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, claims that Apple’s App Tracking Transparency feature, introduced in 2021, imposes stricter requirements on external developers compared to its own services, thereby giving Apple an unfair competitive edge, as reported by ARN News Centre.
The App Tracking Transparency feature was designed to allow users to control whether apps can track their activity across different platforms. However, the plaintiffs argue that this policy has resulted in significant harm to businesses reliant on Apple’s ecosystem, as it creates an uneven playing field.
Leading the lawsuit is Ann Pope, a former senior official with Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority. She stated that the action aims to protect the rights of British businesses that depend on Apple, ensuring that the rules applied by the tech giant are fair and that affected companies receive compensation for their losses.
Apple has previously defended its App Tracking Transparency feature, asserting that it provides essential privacy protections for users. The company did not provide immediate comment on the lawsuit.
This legal challenge follows a series of regulatory investigations into Apple’s tracking policies across Europe. Notably, in Germany, Apple recently agreed to amend its rules regarding how app developers can utilize personal data for targeted advertising after facing accusations of market power abuse from the German competition authority.
Similar probes into Apple’s App Tracking Transparency have been conducted by regulators in France, Italy, Poland, and other countries, highlighting the growing scrutiny of the company’s practices in the digital advertising space.
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