Apple could face a potential antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice – but this time over AirTags and other hardware. Sources told Politico that Justice Department lawyers are in the early stages of preparing a lawsuit against the tech giant.
While these sources said that the DOJ is showing interest in Apple hardware, there is no guarantee that the DOJ will actually go beyond preparations.
The Justice Department launched an investigation into the iPhone maker in 2019. So far, the agency has largely focused on Apple’s tight control over its App Store and developer payment system. The new potential lawsuit reportedly could go further and focus on years of public complaints by tracking device maker Tile against Apple AirTags.
AirTags use ultra-wideband technology and Apple’s Find My network to locate devices, often much more accurately than early Bluetooth-enabled Tile trackers. In congressional testimony, Tile alleged that Apple intentionally disadvantaged Tile on iOS devices by shutting down its Find My network.
After all, last year the tech giant opened up its Find My network to third-party location-tracking devices, albeit with tight conditions and restrictions.
