Apple sued for £2bn in UK over alleged double standard on app tracking

Apple is facing a class action in the UK, filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, brought by app developers led by former UK Competition and Markets Authority official Ann Pope. The suit alleges Apple’s App Tracking Transparency rules unfairly impose stricter consent and tracking restrictions on third-party developers than on Apple’s own advertising services, harming developers’ advertising performance and revenue. Developers say the main practical impact is reduced measurement and attribution, making advertising less effective and more expensive. Apple argues ATT gives users control over whether apps can track them and that it applies the same requirements to all developers. The claim is tied to broader European scrutiny of ATT, including investigations and changes agreed with German authorities, and must be certified before it can proceed.