By building phones with proprietary tech – and changing chargers with newly released iPhone models – many have argued that Apple has exerted unfair control over the market.

Third-party vendor participation has been difficult and expensive, which has limited consumer options whilst contributing to more electronic waste than was actually necessary. 

Agius Saliba told the EP, “We have all heard a number of rumours that Apple is already thinking about how to circumvent the single charger rules that we have adopted”. According to these rumours, Apple is planning on following the new law – in a somewhat conniving way. 

“Apple is expected to release a new iPhone that will be USB-C compatible, but if you don’t buy an original charger from Apple, the charging speed will be lower,” Agius Saliba said.

The MEP described this plan – if true – as a “direct violation of the law”. Having met with Silicon Valley tech companies in the past, Saliba was disappointed that Apple representatives chose not to attend the EP meeting.

Instead of discussing the issues with them, he expressed his intention to send them a formal letter with a summary of the EP’s concerns instead.

“If these rumours are true this proves that Apple’s lobbying against the universal charger over the past ten years was not about innovation, as they claimed, but all about profits. Profits from their proprietary chargers. Such companies do not care about consumers, they do not care about the environment.”

For years, tech companies like Apple have faced credible accusations of designing their products around principles of planned obsolescence. 

This practice essentially guarantees that products will break or become obsolete relatively quickly – which will force consumers to renew purchases. It is more profitable to treat an illness than to offer a permanent cure.

“Big corporations like Apple cannot continue to do what they want at the expense of the rights of our consumers,” concluded Saliba in his social media post.

Tag someone who always forgets their charger, and needs Apple to abide by common charger laws