NGO Denounced Apple’s Planned Obsolescence and Called on Consumers to Resist

After Apple released its rare statement on deliberately slowing down older iPhones, a Chinese non-government organization condemned Apple’s planned obsolescence behavior, calling on boycotting its products and services until it gives reasonable explanation, stops similar practice and apologize to consumers.

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Anti-Apple Coalition, an online former Apple fans group, said Apple is using tactics to curtail the performance of old devices which could have had better performance and therefore forces consumers to abandon the older ones to buy a new one.

“This behavior is undoubtedly theft. And initiated by a high-tech company that has always advocated innovation, it is more serious than theft. Apple’s vague explanation is full of arrogance, pride and insolence, and didn’t take consumer interests into consideration,” read the statement.

The NGO called for investigation from Anti-monopoly Bureau under the Ministry of Commerce on whether Apple iOS abuses its dominant position and violated consumer rights and interests. If Apple did so, Apple should be required to open iOS system in mainland China.

In addition, the company should receive speculation from Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Consumer Association. The authorities should conduct hearings and penalties, if they find out any false conducts.

Members of Anti-Apple Coalition, which claims itself a voluntary organization, are former Apple users who switched to other products because of problems of the tech giants’ products and services

The following is the full statement:

Public Appeal of Apple’s Planned Obsolescence

Recently, older iPhone users complained that every time after the operating system updates, their older iPhones run much slower. They think Apple did so with an intent to promote new phones. Analysts have tested and confirmed the operation and posted the result online. Apple later issued on December 21 an announcement acknowledging the practice, saying that it intended to ensure the overall experience and prolong the life of the device.

We are sorry to see that “planned obsolescence”, an evil conduct once popular in the industrial age, regains momentum in the new era of science and technology and even happens to Apple, the world’s top science and technology enterprise. Gaining huge illegal profits through “planned obsolescence” is not a new behavior. With advancing technology, planned obsolescence has evolved into impairing device efficiency through the control of the operating system. Even giants in old industrial era couldn’t make it. After all, once spread, it would be pernicious.

All companies, including Apple, incline to make consumers buy more and buy frequently. It is understandable. But if companies use tactics to limit the performance of older devices that could have operated well, and in this way, force consumers to abandon the old one and to buy a new one.

This behavior is undoubtedly theft. And initiated by a high-tech company that has always advocated innovation, it is more serious than theft. Apple’s vague explanation is full of arrogance, pride and insolence, and didn’t take consumer interests into consideration.

In this solemn statement, Anti-Apple Coalition condemned planned obsolescence behavior of Apple, calling on consumers to boycott the Apple products and services until the company gives proper explanation, stops similar practice and apologize to consumers.

Governments now lack corresponding regulations to high-tech companies. Thus, consumers’ choice will become the powerful weapon to constrain the malice. If we don’t go into seriously Apple’s tactics, it will certainly cause a chain reaction among all high-tech giants. Then the violation of consumer rights and interests will not be stoppable but spread into the consumer market.

The Coalition called for Anti-Monopoly Bureau under the Ministry of Commerce, to investigate on whether Apple abuses its dominant position in operating system and violates consumer rights and interests. If so, Apple should be required to open iOS system in mainland China.

In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Consumer Association should also investigate into the company. If they find some false conducts, they should conduct hearings and penalties. The Chinese market should not passively accept the imposed imparity but attach greater importance to their own choice. We should value consumers’ rights and interests and network security.

According to the situation and feedback from consumers, we resist Apple’s “planned obsolescence” with careful judgment. Apple has deviated from its original mind, heading to the opposite to innovation and consumer service. It has become a giant monster profiting from its customers in the name of high tech. We will fight against Apple’s actions for the sake of users and consumers’ interests.

Anti-Apple Coalition’s first statement on December 23, 2017

About Anti-Apple Coalition:
It claims to be a voluntary informal organization and formed mostly by former Apple users who switched to other rival’s products because of Apple’s products and services problems. Its purpose is to push Apple to return to the track of innovation and attach greater importance to the consumers’ rights and interests via stressing on Apple’s products and services quality. It will watch closer on Apple’s products and services.