Apple could also be going through a possible US Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit — however this time centered on AirTags and its different {hardware}. Sources instructed Politico that DOJ attorneys are within the nascent levels of drafting an antitrust criticism in opposition to the tech large. While these sources indicated the DOJ has taken an curiosity in Apple’s {hardware}, there is not any assure the company will observe via with a lawsuit at the moment.
The DOJ started investigating the iPhone maker in 2019, as half of a bigger authorities antitrust probe into Big Tech. So far, the company has primarily centered on Apple’s tight maintain of its App Store and cost system for builders. The new potential swimsuit reportedly could go additional and hone in on years of public complaints by monitoring machine maker Tile over Apple’s AirTags.
AirTags use ultra-wideband expertise and Apple’s Find My community to find units, usually far more exactly than Tile’s early-model Bluetooth-enabled trackers. In testimony earlier than Congress, Tile has alleged that Apple purposely deprived Tile on iOS units by walling off its Find My community. The tech large ultimately opened its Find My community to third-party units final 12 months for location monitoring, albeit with extreme phrases and restrictions which might possible end in firms like Tile having to surrender their software program ecosystems in favor of Apple’s. Incidentally, this was a cut price Tile opted to not take. Engadget has reached out to Apple and the DOJ for remark and can replace if we hear again.