Apple informed in Brazil of allegedly misleading advertisements from Apple Intelligence

After agreeing to a $250 million settlement in the United States over allegations it misled customers about delayed Apple Intelligence and Siri features, Apple is now facing similar scrutiny in Brazil. Here are the details.

Apple’s Apple Intelligence Ad Woes Continue

As reported Tech BlogRio de Janeiro’s consumer protection agency Procon Carioca has given Apple 20 days to respond to an investigation into whether it misled consumers with advertising for the iPhone 16’s AI features that have still not been delivered.

Extract from the report:

Last Friday, May 8, Procon Carioca opened an administrative procedure to investigate possible omissions, non-execution of an offer and violation of the obligation to provide clear, adequate and visible information. These practices are prohibited under the (Brazilian) Consumer Protection Code.

The news follows a US class action settlement in which Apple agreed to pay $250 million to resolve claims related to the availability of more personalized Siri features first announced at WWDC 2024.

Last December, Apple agreed to settle the case, and last Tuesday the full terms of the settlement received preliminary approval. Under these terms, eligible iPhone buyers in the United States should receive around $25 per device, although that figure could rise to $95 depending on how many people submit claims.

For the Procon Carioca survey, Tech Blog reports that the consumer protection agency is asking Apple to provide several details, including:

What features were actually delivered at launch?

How was this information communicated to Brazilian consumers?

What advertising materials were distributed in the country?

What is the implementation schedule for the announced features?

Data on consumer complaints and the number of people affected.

Measures adopted or envisaged to ensure corrections and possible compensation.

Apple had 20 days from the May 8 notification to respond to the investigation. Tech Blog also said it contacted Apple, but the company said it would not comment on the matter.