Brazil fines Apple USD 2.4 million, bars sale of charger-less iPhones

The government of Brazil has slapped a fine on US-based technology giant Apple amounting to over USD 2 million for selling iPhones without a charger.

File photo: iPhone 12 Pro Max

Apple faces issues in Brazil

Authorities in the country ordered the "immediate suspension of the distribution of iPhone brand smartphones, regardless of model or generation, that are not accompanied by a battery charger."

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security then directed the American firm to pay a fine of about USD 2.4 million.

Since December last year, Apple has been gaining negative traction from Brazilian authorities following its decision to sell "an incomplete product," seeing it as "discrimination against the consumer" and "the transfer of responsibility to third parties."

While Apple already faced penalties before, the Brazilian government stressed it "did not take any measures to minimize the harm and until now continued to sell the cellular devices without chargers."

Apple argued that the decision was driven by its "environmental commitment." The Brazilian government, however, was not convinced.

It said that "there is no effective demonstration of environmental protection on Brazilian soil as a consequence," noting Apple imposed "deliberate" discriminatory practices against consumers.

There is no justification for an operation which, in aiming to reduce carbon emissions, leads to the introduction into the consumer market of a product whose use depends on the acquisition of another (product) which is also marketed by the company, it said.

Source: Bangkok Post