Tech

Department Of Justice, SEC Launching Probe Into Apple Slowing Down Older iPhones

(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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Eric Lieberman Managing Editor
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Apple admitted to slowing down older iPhone models in December, and now the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are launching a probe into the matter.

The two regulatory and law enforcement agencies want to find out if the tech giant violated laws that mandate public disclosure pertaining to certain software updates, according to Bloomberg, so they are asking Apple to send them certain information.

It’s yet another piece of bad news for Apple, both pertaining to this situation and separate incidences. Apple is facing at least eight different lawsuits for deliberately slowing down older iPhones.

Apple argues that it purposefully rolled back the computing speeds of more outdated models, many of which were still in customers’ possession, so they could stop abruptly shutting down.

“Our goal is to deliver the best experience for customers, which includes overall performance and prolonging the life of their devices,” said an Apple representative. “Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components.”

But because of a myriad of technical problems from Apple, as well as some arguably hypocritical actions, some internet users questioned Apple’s intentions.

Apple could have notified users that to reinvigorate iPhones to their former computing speed, they need a new battery. Many interpreted such silence as an indirect way to get people buy a new, more expensive mobile device instead.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company told users of the intentional battery slowdown, but either people weren’t listening or the company didn’t do a good enough job of making its actions clear.

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