Consumer electronics company known for iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and services including App Store, Apple Music, and iCloud.
In November 2025, Apple confirmed it removed popular gay dating apps Blued and Finka from its Chinese iOS Store following an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China. This continued Apple's pattern of complying with authoritarian censorship demands, following 2024 removals of WhatsApp and Instagram from China.
The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal concluded Apple abused its dominant position by charging excessive commissions on App Store purchases between 2015 and 2024. The tribunal found Apple's commissions excessive and unfair, estimating fair fees at 17.5% for distribution and 10% for payment services versus Apple's actual rates. Damages were awarded to consumers for unlawful overcharges passed on by developers. Apple has indicated it will appeal.
The European Commission found Apple breached its anti-steering obligation under the Digital Markets Act by imposing restrictions that prevent app developers from fully benefiting from alternative distribution channels outside the App Store. Apple's practices were found to limit competition and consumer choice in the app ecosystem.
Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled Apple 'willfully' failed to comply with previous injunctions in the Epic Games case. The judge found that Apple executives had lied and knowingly took an anti-competitive route to demonstrate compliance. She extended injunctions to prevent Apple from collecting fees from third-party storefronts and referred the case to the federal attorney's office for possible criminal contempt proceedings.
Apple has received a score of 100% every year on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index across all 18 years of the report's existence. The company maintains 25,000+ employees in Diversity Network Associations including Pride@Apple, which partnered with Point of Pride to support transgender employees. Apple also signed an HRC letter opposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation alongside 39 other companies.
Apple agreed to a $95 million settlement in Lopez v. Apple, a class action lawsuit filed in 2019 alleging Siri recorded user conversations without the required 'Hey Siri' voice command or button press. Plaintiffs claimed users were unaware that human contractors, not just computers, reviewed audio recordings, and that Apple shared data with advertisers for ad targeting.
Thousands of child sexual abuse material victims filed lawsuit against Apple for dropping its announced CSAM detection plans. Plaintiffs argue Apple's reversal forces victims to repeatedly relive trauma as their images continue circulating on Apple platforms.
In December 2024, Apple announced plans to launch an online store in Saudi Arabia in summer 2025 and open flagship retail stores starting 2026, including an 'iconic' store in Diriyah. Apple disclosed spending over $2.66 billion with Saudi suppliers over five years. The expansion proceeds despite Saudi Arabia's documented record of censorship, surveillance, and human rights abuses.
The National Labor Relations Board filed complaints alleging Apple required employees nationwide to sign illegal confidentiality, non-disclosure, and non-compete agreements that deterred discussions about pay equity and workplace issues. The complaints stem from charges by former employees Ashley Gjovik (2021) and Cher Scarlett, who played a central role in the #AppleToo movement. Apple was also accused of intimidating retail staff over unionization efforts.
Class action filed on behalf of over 12,000 current and former female employees in Apple's engineering, marketing and AppleCare divisions in California. Lawsuit alleges Apple used prior salary history to perpetuate pay gaps even after the practice became illegal in 2018.
In 2024, Apple announced a new process enabling customers and independent repair providers to use used genuine Apple parts in iPhone repairs. The company said the process maintains privacy, security, and safety while offering more repair options, increasing product longevity, and minimizing environmental impact. This represented a significant shift from Apple's previous stance requiring only new OEM parts.
In March 2024, the European Commission fined Apple €1.84 billion ($2 billion) for abusing its dominant position in the market for music streaming app distribution via the App Store. The fine stemmed from Apple's anti-steering rules that prevented Spotify and other music streaming developers from informing iOS users about alternative, cheaper subscription options available outside the app. This was the first antitrust fine the EU imposed on Apple.
In February 2024, Apple's principal secure repair architect John Perry testified against Oregon's right-to-repair bill SB 1596, opposing provisions that would restrict parts pairing. This came just six months after Apple publicly endorsed California's SB 244, a weaker bill Apple was already compliant with. Google publicly supported the same Oregon bill Apple opposed. Security experts rebutted Apple's claims that parts pairing was necessary for device security.
In August 2023, Apple backed California's SB 244 right-to-repair bill, marking a major policy shift from its previous opposition. Apple stated it would support the bill 'so long as it continues to provide protections for customers and innovators,' citing requirements that protect user safety, security, and manufacturer intellectual property. This represented the first time Apple publicly supported state-level right-to-repair legislation.
After announcing plans to scan iCloud photos for child sexual abuse material, Apple reversed course following criticism from privacy advocates and security experts who warned the system could be abused by governments. Child safety groups accused Apple of prioritizing privacy over child protection.
In December 2022, Apple launched Advanced Data Protection for iCloud in the US, expanding end-to-end encryption from 14 to 23 data categories including iCloud Backup, Photos, Notes, Drive, and Messages Backups. The feature rolled out globally in January 2023. This encryption prevents Apple from accessing most iCloud data even in response to law enforcement requests or in the event of a hack, representing a significant expansion of user privacy protections beyond the default iCloud encryption that allowed Apple to hold decryption keys.
In November 2021, Apple announced its Self Service Repair program, launching in April 2022 for iPhone 12/13 and M1 Macs. The program made genuine Apple parts, repair manuals, and tools available to consumers for the first time. However, repair advocates noted limitations: tools arrived in two massive 35.8kg pelican cases, parts pairing still restricted many repairs, and analysts assessed the program as a preemptive measure to get ahead of right-to-repair legislation rather than a genuine philosophical shift.
A 2021 study by Fight for the Future and GreatFire found Saudi Arabia has the most LGBTQ+-related applications unavailable in Apple's App Store globally, with 28 apps missing. The study documented 1,377 cases of LGBTQ+ app access restrictions across 152 App Stores worldwide. Apple complies with local content laws despite stated commitments to an 'open society.'
On April 26, 2021, Apple launched App Tracking Transparency (ATT) in iOS 14.5, requiring all apps to explicitly ask users for permission before tracking them across other apps and websites. Up to 96% of US users opted out. Facebook estimated the change cost it ~$10 billion in 2022 revenue and launched a public campaign against Apple, claiming ATT would hurt small businesses. The feature fundamentally reshaped the digital advertising industry by giving users control over cross-app tracking.
In July 2020, Apple committed to becoming carbon neutral across its entire supply chain and product lifecycle by 2030, requiring 75% emissions reduction vs 2015 baseline. By 2025, Apple achieved a 60% reduction while revenue grew 65%. Over 320 suppliers (95% of manufacturing spend) committed to 100% renewable energy for Apple production. Apple reached 99% recycled rare earth elements in magnets and 99% recycled cobalt in batteries. Corporate operations have run on 100% renewable energy since 2014.