Brazil Fines Apple for Selling iPhones Without Chargers

September 7, 2022
iPhones without chargers

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Brazilian government has barred and fined tech giant, Apple, for selling iPhones without chargers.

The South American country accused the US tech giant of “discriminatory practices” and placed a fine of 12.28 million Real (nearly $2.4 million) on the firm.

In an official notice, Brazilian authorities ordered “the immediate suspension of the distribution of iPhone brand smartphones, regardless of model or generation, that are not accompanied by a battery charger.”

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security in a statement revealed that the California-based company will pay the fine as a measure from the country’s Department of Consumer Protection and Defense effectively prohibits the sale of all iPhone 12 and 13 models.

Apple has been under investigation in Brazil since December for what the authorities say is the sale of an incomplete product, discrimination against the consumer, and the transfer of responsibility to third parties by offering iPhone 12s and newer versions without chargers for power outlets, according to an official statement.

The company has faced fines from Brazilian state agencies before, but “did not take any measures to minimize the harm and until now continued to sell the cellular devices without chargers,” the statement said.

“There is no justification for an operation which, in aiming to reduce carbon emissions, leads to the introduction into the consumer market of a product whose use depends on the acquisition of another (product) which is also marketed by the company,” the official notice added.

Apple, however, said it was working with Brazil’s consumer protection agency SENACON to handle the matter.

“We have already won several court rulings in Brazil on this matter and we are confident that our customers are aware of the various options for charging and connecting their device,” the company said in a report.

The company said it removed chargers from the retail box the company so as to cut carbon emissions equivalent to taking 500,000 cars off the road.

As of the time of the report, Apple is launching the iPhone 14.

Adedapo Adesanya

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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