Consumer protection authorities in the Brazilian state of Alagoa have fined Apple $101,627.50 (about $20,000) for selling iPhones without what they described as “a necessary item for the regular use of the product.” Here are the details.
Old issue, new fine
As reported by Alagoas 24 Horas (via MacMagazine), regulators argue that Apple’s decision to remove the power adapter from the iPhone box violates Brazil’s Consumer Protection Code.
According to Procon-ALthe state supervisor for consumer protection:
“In our assessment, we found that by passing on to the consumer the burden of separately purchasing an item that is necessary for the proper use of the product, the company violates the principles of objective good faith, transparency and consumer vulnerability.”
Procon-AL initially set the fine at around $12,000, but later increased it to approximately $20,000, citing aggravating factors under Brazilian regulations and Apple’s lack of effort to resolve the complaint.
This isn’t the first time Apple has been in trouble in Brazil for not including a charger in the iPhone box. In 2022, the Brazilian Ministry of Justice ordered the suspension of iPhone sales in the country for that matter. The move came a year after Apple was fined approximately $2 million for the same practice.
Based on the latest decision, Apple’s Brazilian subsidiary now has 20 days to appeal. If the appeal is rejected, the amount of the fine will be adjusted again based on Brazil’s IPCA-E inflation index.
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