Apple is facing intensified legal pressure in the United States, as Proton, the Swiss provider of encrypted communications services, has joined a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of stifling competition and undermining consumer privacy.
The legal action, filed with the US District Court for Northern California, claims Apple exploits its dominance over iOS and the App Store, creating an uneven playing field for developers and limiting consumer choice.
In a statement shared through its blog, Proton asserted, “We believe that Apple’s conduct, as detailed in the complaint we filed, constitutes further violations of US antitrust law.”
The company warned that unless the courts intervene, Apple could continue practices in the US that have already been curtailed in Europe, leading to “higher prices for fewer choices” for American users and app makers.