India’s consumer regulator comes for iOS

Apple faces its latest wave of regulation as India’s consumer regulator investigates if the terms of its software warranty following allegations that an iOS 18 update damaged iPhone functionality.

The suit specifically accuses the company of making customers pay exorbitantly for repairs for problems caused by a software update.

Apple denies the claims and says it will work to provide regulators with clarity. The company points to the stringent testing iOS 18 received and said the case was based on just 75 complaints, but the regulator is pressing forward all the same.

India’s Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) launched the case because it received what it claimed were a large number of complaints that iOS 18 in late 2024 caused screen display and microphone malfunctions which Apple forced customers to pay to repair.

At issue is a portion of the licensing agreement people agree to when choosing to sue Apple hardware, which says software is provided without warranty of any kind. Apple argues that this is perfectly normal and required.

Regulators can seek documents and hold hearings as part of the investigation, reports said. It can also require changes or even reparation if found guilty. This is just the latest in a long set of litigation chapters globally and in India as Apple continues to grow in al markets.

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