Apple is facing a $2.7 billion lawsuit in the UK over its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) rules, according to medianama.com. The claim was filed Thursday at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal by app developers who allege Apple abused its market power by imposing stricter tracking requirements on third-party developers than on its own services. The lawsuit challenges Apple’s ATT framework introduced in 2021, which requires apps to get user permission before tracking for advertising.
The case is led by Ann Pope, a former senior official at the Competition and Markets Authority, who argues that Apple’s policy has caused significant harm to businesses relying on its platform, per medianama.com. Apple denies the allegations, stating its rules apply equally to all developers. ATT controls how apps collect data about users’ activity across other apps and websites, aiming to give users control over tracking for personalised advertising.
The dispute focuses on whether Apple applies ATT rules fairly, not on the principle of user consent. Developers and advertisers contend that the framework weakens their ability to monetise users through targeted ads, while Apple maintains it provides a simple way for users to decide on tracking. The lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions between platform owners and third-party developers over data privacy and competitive practices.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal will now consider the claim filed on Thursday, marking a significant legal challenge to Apple’s privacy policies in the UK market, as reported by medianama.com.