The Biden administration sued Apple on Thursday, alleging the tech giant created a monopoly in the smartphone market by blocking competitors from accessing hardware and software features of the iPhone.
The lawsuit, filed by the Department of Justice in federal court in New Jersey, is the latest in a series of efforts by the Biden administration to reign in what it argues is unlawful anticompetitive behavior by some of the nation’s largest tech companies. Sixteen state and district attorneys general joined the DOJ in bringing the case.
“We allege that Apple has maintained monopoly power in the smartphone market, not simply by staying ahead of the competition on the merits, but by violating federal antitrust law,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “If left unchallenged, Apple will only continue to strengthen its smartphone monopoly.”
In the lawsuit, the department claims Apple has used its control over the iPhone to “engage in a broad, sustained, and illegal course of conduct” designed to maintain its control over the smartphone market and prevent its rivals from attracting consumers.
Among the actions alleged by DOJ, Apple has sought to block the spread of “SuperApps” that make it easier for consumers to switch between smartphone platforms. The DOJ accuses Apple of blocking development of cloud streaming apps and services that would make it easier for consumers to play high-quality games and other apps without paying for accompanying hardware.
Apple is also accused of deliberately making the quality of cross-platform messaging worse and less secure to incentivize users of other smartphones like Android to instead just switch to an iPhone.
Garland and other senior DOJ officials are set to formally announce the lawsuit in a press conference at the Justice Department Thursday morning.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.