The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal has certified a £3 billion (approximately $3.9 billion) class action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of abusing its dominant position with the iCloud service. The case, brought by consumer group Which?, represents an estimated 40 million UK iPhone and iPad users, each of whom could receive up to £77 if the claim succeeds. The tribunal's decision marks a significant milestone for digital consumer rights and challenges Apple's vendor lock-in strategies since 2015.
Which? alleges inflated iCloud pricing
Which? claims Apple has deliberately restricted how rival cloud services work on its devices, effectively locking customers into iCloud. Since 2015, the company has charged inflated subscription prices, exploiting the lack of real alternatives. Apple provides 5 GB of free storage but pushes users toward paid tiers once that fills up, with UK pricing ranging from £0.99 per month for 50 GB to £54.99 per month for 12 TB. The consumer group filed its claim at the tribunal in November 2024 after years of gathering evidence.
Sponsored Protocol
Anabel Hoult, Which? chief executive, stated that the organization aims to show that no company, no matter how powerful, can get away with abusing its position. She called the tribunal's green light a step closer to securing the redress consumers deserve. This sends a strong message to other companies using anticompetitive tactics.
Apple defends itself and plans to appeal
Apple has called the claims unfounded, arguing that no customer is forced to use iCloud and that alternatives exist. The company strongly disagrees with the tribunal's decision and intends to appeal. The trial is scheduled for October 2028, making a long legal battle ahead. This case rekindles the debate on big tech lock-in practices, similar to other regulatory challenges. For more on tech regulatory battles, read our article on Anthropic vs the US government.
Sponsored Protocol
Eligibility and next steps for UK iCloud users
The class action covers anyone who used iCloud on a UK device between November 8, 2018 and June 8, 2026. Those living in the UK on June 8 are automatically included unless they opt out by October 8, while non-UK residents must opt in by the same deadline. Customers who started using iCloud after June 8, 2026 are excluded. For more on how class actions work, see the Wikipedia page on class action lawsuits. Meanwhile, Apple continues software updates: check out the latest on macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 and iOS 26.5.2.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/23/apple-3-billion-uk-icloud-case-cleared-for-trial
