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The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Delhi has directed Apple India to pay Rs. 1 lakh compensation to a customer. The company is held guilty of deficiency in service. The order relates to Apple’s “findable after power off” iPhone feature. The panel said that the feature was presented without clear limitations.
The complaint was filed by Delhi resident Shan Mohammad, who purchased an iPhone 13 in 2022. His phone was later stolen, after which he attempted to track the device using Apple’s tracking tools.
He relied on the feature that suggests an iPhone can still be located even after it is switched off. However, he could not trace the phone despite following the suggested steps. He then approached the consumer commission, claiming financial loss and mental harassment.
Apple India argued that it does not take responsibility for recovering stolen devices. The company said the tracking feature works only when certain conditions are met. These include enabling the “Find My” function before the device is lost.
Apple also stated that tracking depends on network availability and proximity to supported devices. It maintained that the complainant had not activated the required settings. The company further said it had provided adequate assistance through its customer support system.
The commission, led by President Monika A. Srivastava and Member Kiran Kaushal, noted that Apple did not clearly communicate these conditions. The phrase “findable after power off” appeared without disclaimers or sufficient explanation.
The panel observed that an average user could assume the phone can always be tracked, which is not accurate. It held that the lack of clarity amounted to misleading information and poor service.
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The ruling highlights the need for tech firms to explain feature limitations in clear terms. Consumer bodies are increasingly examining how product claims influence buying decisions.
It also serves as a reminder for users to check device settings carefully and enable critical features in advance.
