politics
Lawmaker calls for antitrust action after Apple raises product prices
A Democratic representative urged Congress to pursue legislation targeting large technology companies following Apple's price increases on select devices. The comments came during a Sunday interview and referenced recent chip cost pressures tied to data center expansion.
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A member of Congress called for antitrust legislation aimed at large technology companies after Apple raised prices on some of its products by about 20 percent. The lawmaker said the companies view themselves as governments and seek similar authority. The remarks were made during a Fox News interview that aired Sunday.
Price changes and company statements Apple began increasing prices last week on MacBooks and iPads, citing higher costs for memory and storage chips. iPhones and AirPods were not affected. The company's chief executive stated in a Wall Street Journal interview this month that price increases were unavoidable.
Data center growth and legislative response Apple attributed the chip price surge to rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers. The company said the infrastructure buildout created an extraordinary increase in demand for memory and storage.
The lawmaker's bill follows a similar proposal introduced in March by another member of Congress. The measures seek a moratorium on new data centers to address electricity costs and environmental effects. The earlier proposal stated that a pause would allow time to assess risks and ensure the technology benefits a broader population.
