Apple may face DOJ antitrust complaint over AirTags

Apple could face a possible antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice, but this time focused on AirTags and its other hardware. Sources told Politico that DOJ attorneys are in the early stages of drafting an antitrust complaint against the tech giant. Although these sources indicated that the DOJ has taken an interest in Apple's hardware, there is no guarantee that the agency will pursue legal action at this time.

The DOJ began investigating the iPhone maker in 2019, as part of a larger government antitrust probe into Big Tech. So far, the agency has mainly focused on Apple's stranglehold on its App Store and developer payment system. The potential new lawsuit could go deeper and focus on years of public complaints tracking device maker Tile over Apple's AirTags.

AirTags use ultra-wideband technology and Apple's Find My network to locate devices, often much more precisely than Tile's first Bluetooth-enabled trackers. In testimony before Congress, Tile alleged that Apple deliberately disadvantaged Tile on iOS devices by blocking its Find My network. The tech giant finally opened up its Find My network to third-party devices last year for location tracking, but with stringent conditions and restrictions that would likely force companies like Tile to ditch their software ecosystems in favor of... 'Apple. Incidentally, it was a good deal that Tile chose not to accept. Engadget has contacted Apple and the DOJ for comment and will update if we receive a response.

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