Brazil judge imposes fine of $20 million on Apple for selling iPhones without chargers

A Brazilian judge finedApple$20 million Thursday for selling iPhones without chargers, calling it an "abusive practice" that forces customers to buy an additional product.

The decision, which can be appealed, came afterBrazil's justice ministry slapped a separate fine of nearly $2.5 million onApplein September over the same issueand barred the US tech giant from selling its iPhone 12 and 13 models without chargers.

The new fine of 100 million reais was awarded by a Sao Paulo civil court judge as damages in a lawsuit filed by the Brazilian Consumers' Association.

Applestopped including outlet chargers with new iPhones in October 2020, saying it wanted to help reduce electronics waste.

But the move effectively "requires consumers to purchase a second product in order for the first to work," Judge Caramuru Afonso Francisco wrote in his ruling.

He ordered the California company to supply chargers to all consumers inBrazilwho bought iPhone models 12 or 13 in the past two years, and begin including them with all new purchases.

Last week, the European Parliament passed a law requiring all smartphones, tablets and cameras to use USB-C ports as the single charger standard from late 2024, which will forceAppleto change its phone designs.

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