I have spent 18 years researching how digital technology impacts people’s lives. Through my work, I’ve seen how dependent we’ve become on apps and mobile technology and how this dependency can lead to unfair practices. When I was approached to lead this collective action, I felt strongly that it was the right thing to do. Millions of UK consumers have been overcharged for years, and this case is about standing up for their rights, holding Apple accountable, and ensuring fairer practices in the future. It’s not about punishing Apple but about making sure the rules apply to everyone, no matter how powerful.
Dr Rachael Kent, Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education
17 January 2025
King's academic leads collective action against Apple on behalf of UK customers
The claim led by Dr Rachael Kent alleges that Apple breached competition law and overcharged for app purchases, seeking £1.5bn in compensation.
Dr Rachael Kent, Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education in the Department of Digital Humanities at King’s, is the first female class representative in UK legal history leading a collective action against Apple on behalf of 19.6 million UK consumers.
The complaint, originally filed in May 2021, alleges that Apple abuses its dominant position through exclusion of any other app stores from iOS devices and the 30% surcharge that it imposes on apps purchased through the App Store. The claim applies to most popular apps on iPhones and iPads, including Fortnite, YouTube, Tinder and many others, that require payment at the point of download, subscription payments, or allow for in-app purchases. It does not apply to apps providing “physical goods or services that will be consumed outside of the app”, such as Uber and Deliveroo. The claim alleges that as many as nearly 20 million iPhone and iPad users in the UK may have been affected.
In a statement released prior to the trial, Apple rejected the claim: ‘We believe this lawsuit is meritless and welcome the opportunity to discuss with the court our unwavering commitment to consumers and the many benefits the App Store and Apple’s valuable technologies have delivered to the UK’s innovation economy.’
The case is one of the first brought to the Competition Appeal Tribunal since its jurisdiction was broadened in 2015 by the Consumer Rights Act, where millions of UK consumers could win compensation in the event of the claim succeeding.
In this opt-out claim, any UK users who have purchased paid apps, paid subscriptions or made other in-app purchases within the UK version of the App Store on their iPhone and/or iPad devices since 1 October 2015 may be entitled to compensation from Apple.
We are hopeful that my case will emphasise and show the UK public that no one is ‘too big’ to face scrutiny when they have been engaging in illegal conduct that ultimately harms UK consumers. This goes for big tech and other areas as well.
Dr Rachael Kent, Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education
The trial, which started on 13 January, is estimated to last eight weeks.
Dr Kent is represented by Lesley Hannah, Sofie Edwards, Kio Gwilliam, Emma Poland, Jonathan Amior, Natalie Jukes, Jake Henderson, Abigail Masters and Kazi Elias at law firm Hausfeld & Co. LLP, with barristers Mark Hoskins KC and Matthew Kennedy from Brick Court Chambers, and Tim Ward KC, Michael Armitage and Antonia Fitzpatrick from Monckton Chambers.
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Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy & Society Education