Apple has been fined nearly $ 2 million in the Brazilian state of São Paulo for violations of consumer law for not having a charger in the box for newer iPhones. Tilt reports.
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Procon-SP, São Paulo’s consumer protection agency, decided to fine Apple after intensive investigations into the decision to remove the power adapter from the boxes of iPhones. With the iPhone 12, Apple took the power adapter out of the box and said it would reduce carbon emissions and use of rare earths.
In December, the Brazilian agency informed Apple that selling an iPhone in the country without a charger in the box is a violation of the Consumer Defense Code. Apple responded to the agency’s concerns by saying that most customers already have spare adapters and there is no need to put another in the box.
Fernando Capez, executive director of Procon-SP, warned Apple sternly after the fine, saying it must respect and understand Brazilian consumer laws and institutions. In addition to the lack of a charger, Apple will also be fined for misleading customers about the water resistance of iPhones.
Since the iPhone 7, iPhones have been water resistant to various specifications. For example, the more recent iPhone 12 series is certified for submersion in water of up to 6 meters for 30 minutes.
Procon-SP claims that Apple refused to repair devices for customers who suffered water damage with their “water-resistant” iPhones, even though they are under warranty. Other charges brought up by Apple are allegations that it is deliberately slowing down older phones with iOS updates to encourage customers to buy newer models.
Apple will have the opportunity to appeal the $ 2 million fine. We’ve reached out to Apple for comment and will update this article if we hear anything.