The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) has fined the two main manufacturers of devices in the world for planned obsolescence, in a world-first case.
In detail: The AGCM’s fines tally up to €10m for Apple, and to €5m for Samsung, after “complex” investigations. The authority found violations of Italy’s Consumer Code by “insistently” proposing software updates without adequately informing consumers, and without providing a way to recover full functionality of the devices.
Why is Apple’s fine higher? Because the AGCM sanctioned the company’s failure to inform consumers about duration and deterioration of lithium batteries – something the company only got round to doing as of December 2017, when the issue had gained wide press coverage. Both companies now have to publish an amending declaration on their Italian websites, linking to the AGCM’s ruling.
