Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Apple India: Not Obligated to Track Stolen iPhones

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has declared that Apple India is not mandated to track stolen iPhones using their unique identity numbers. 

This decision marks a reversal of a prior directive from the Odisha State Consumer Commission, which had imposed the responsibility on Apple.

The case originated from a consumer in Odisha who, having purchased an iPhone with theft insurance, reported its theft to both the police and Apple India. The consumer anticipated Apple to take action and track the device based on its unique identifier. 

However, Apple contested this obligation, leading to a ruling in the consumer’s favor by the District Consumer Forum. Subsequently, Apple appealed this decision.

The District Consumer Forum argued that, as the manufacturer, Apple was obliged to utilize the phone’s unique identifier to trace its location. However, Apple maintained its stance against being compelled to function as a law enforcement agency and sought relief from the Supreme Court.

Despite Apple’s compensation to the consumer, the Supreme Court ultimately sided with the company. The court emphasized that forcing Apple to track stolen phones was an “unwarranted observation” and did not fall within the realm of the company’s responsibility. 

As part of its ruling, the apex court directed the removal of the contentious paragraph from the State Commission’s order, providing clarity on the limitations of corporations’ obligations in such situations. 

This verdict sets a precedent regarding the specific responsibilities of manufacturers in tracking stolen electronic devices and defines the extent to which companies are held accountable for such actions.