Among major technology companies Apple It has been subjected to the greatest scrutiny in Europe for its so-called monopoly policy. Most of the accusations against Apple are brought by the European Commission, leading to significant changes in policies App Store. But this time the British consumer watchdog is watching as Apple forces users to use on iCloud and restricted competition.

As stated on the organization’s website WhichApple, concerned with the protection of consumer rights, blocked access to iCloud for more than 40 million customers in the UK at exorbitant prices. The lawsuit alleges that Apple has made an iCloud-specific app that encourages users to subscribe to cloud storage, preventing them from using alternative services.

What exactly? Additionally, Apple customers are not allowed to store or backup their phone data on third-party cloud services. Considering that the free iCloud storage is only 5 GB, users who run out of space are forced to purchase additional cloud space from Apple.

The claim was lodged with the Competition Appeal Tribunal, seeking £3 billion ($3.75 billion) in damages for UK iCloud users who have paid for the service since 1 October 2015. The European Commission has no jurisdiction over the case due to the UK leaving the EU in 2020.

Which According to Anabel Holt? Executive Director:

“We believe Apple customers are owed around £3 billion as a result of the tech giant imposing iCloud services on customers and cutting off competition from rival services.”

In response, Apple emphasized that its users are not required to use iCloud and are free to use third-party platforms. In a statement to Computer Weekly, an Apple spokesperson said:

“Our users don’t need to use iCloud, and most rely on a wide variety of third-party alternatives for data storage. We also work hard to make data transfer as easy as possible, whether it’s to iCloud or another service. “We reject any suggestion that our iCloud practices are anti-competitive and will otherwise vigorously defend against any legal claims.”

Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice also accused Apple of excluding its customers from its ecosystem and preventing them from freely accessing rival platforms.