Huge numbers of iPhones were confiscated from Brazilian stores for a strange reason

Brazil's Ministry of Justice in September ordered the suspension of iPhone sales in the country because it believed Apple was harming consumers by not providing the power adapter that came with the device. Even after fines amounting to $1 million, Apple still failed to comply with requirements - which has now led to the federal district's consumer protection regulator seizing iPhones from retail stores.

iPhones confiscated in Brazil for not including a charger

As Techno blog first reported, Procon-DF has seized “hundreds of iPhones in various retail stores in Brasilia,” the capital of Brazil. In a procedure called the "discharging process," the regulator aims to force Apple to comply with a local law that requires smartphones to be charged with the charger included in the box.

According to the report, iPhones have been seized at carrier stores and authorized Apple distributors. The regulator also ordered a ban on any iPhone model that lacks the charger included in the box. And while Apple stopped shipping the accessory for free with the iPhone 12, the company has also updated the iPhone 11 with a new, more compact box without the charger.

After seizing the iPhones, Apple Brazil asked the government to allow phone sales in the country until the final resolution of the dispute. The company told Tecnoblog that it continues to sell iPhones in Brazil despite the operation.

Judge Diego Camara Alves has allowed the company to continue selling iPhones in Brazil until a final ruling is issued that the company does not violate any consumer rights. The judge also claims that the Brazilian regulator is "abusing his power" with such a decision. Apple says it is confident it will win the legal dispute and that customers are "aware of the different options for charging and connecting their devices."

Interestingly, in Brazil, the new Apple TV 4K still comes with a USB-C cable included in the box. While the company does not state the reasons for making this decision, it seems very clear that Apple wanted to avoid further fines from the Brazilian regulator amid the controversy over the iPhone charger.