Class action suit claims Apple failed to tell Wi-Fi Assist users about data use

Wi-Fi Assist is a new feature that Apple included with iOS 9. The feature allows someone using a Wi-Fi connection, to seamlessly switch to a cellular network if the Wi-Fi signal becomes too weak. Wi-Fi Assist is turned on by default, which means that there could be many iPhone users who are unaware that their precious data is being used at certain times. If this sounds like a lawsuit to you, you're absolutely right.

A class-action suit has been filed against Apple by plaintiffs William Scott Phillips and Suzanne Schmidt Phillips. The filing indicates that the amount sought from Apple by the entire class exceeds $5 million. According to the suit, Apple did not properly explain Wi-Fi Assist until it was too late. It wasn't until October 14th, nearly a month after iOS 9 launched, when Apple posted a support document explaining how Wi-Fi Assist uses cellular data. In the posting, Apple wrote that most users will see only a small increase in data usage, a comment that the plaintiffs claim "downplays" the amount of data that Wi-Fi Assist users can burn through.

The plaintiffs say that they had to pay overage charges after Wi-Fi Assist appeared with the iOS 9 update on their Apple iPhone 5s units. As a result, they are claiming that Apple violated the California Unfair Competition Law and its False Advertising Law. They add that the tech titan also made a negligent misrepresentation.

The suit was filed Friday in a U.S. District Court in San Jose.


source: AppleInsider