02/03/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17YfukVqiR/
Apple was fined $27 million in France for deliberately slowing down older iPhone models. In many other countries, the company likely would have avoided penalties.
France became the first nation to classify planned obsolescence as a criminal offense. Manufacturers that intentionally reduce a product’s lifespan can face up to two years in prison, a €300,000 fine, or as much as 5% of their annual revenue. The nonprofit organization HOP, created by activist Laetitia Vasseur, campaigned for years to make the law a reality.
In 2020, French authorities fined Apple $27 million for throttling older iPhones and required the company to publish a public notice on its website for one month. France also implemented a mandatory Repairability Index, requiring smartphones, laptops, and appliances to display a score from 1 to 10 indicating how repairable they are. A national Repair Fund helps cover repair costs, making it more affordable to fix devices instead of replacing them.
No other country has enacted measures this strict, though the European Union is now considering comparable legislation.
