The US Justice Department and numerous states filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, alleging illegal smartphone market monopolisation.

Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Apple maintained its dominance by violating federal antitrust laws. The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey, follows years of complaints about Apple’s restrictive app store terms and “walled-garden” approach.

Apple denied the allegations, expressing intent to contest them. Critics argue Apple’s actions stifle innovation and harm competition. Garland emphasised the need to challenge such monopolies to protect free markets. Critics cite disparities, like iPhone’s superior multimedia messaging compared to Android. Apple agreed to improve text messaging quality but maintains a perceived class divide.