Apple Risk Report

⚖️ Legal & Regulatory

Apple is facing a series of significant legal and regulatory challenges in 2025. The company is entangled in multiple antitrust and compliance lawsuits, which could potentially result in severe financial penalties and operational disruptions. These issues highlight the mounting legal risks associated with Apple’s global operations, emphasizing the need for strategic legal maneuvering to mitigate potential impacts.

• The Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defense recommended a conviction of Apple for anticompetitive conduct 🗓 2025-07-01.
• Apple lost its bid to dismiss the Justice Department's antitrust suit 🗓 2025-07-01.
• A Moscow court fined Apple for US$38,141 for refusing to remove prohibited content 🗓 2025-06-18.
• Apple was sued by shareholders for allegedly overstating AI progress 🗓 2025-06-20.
• Apple faces severe penalties in the Epic v. Apple case for violating an injunction and perjury 🗓 2025-05-19.

👥 Labor & Workforce

Apple is experiencing a decline in its workforce, attributed to strategic layoffs across various divisions. The reduction in headcount over the past six and twelve months indicates a broader trend of workforce optimization amidst ongoing market challenges. These layoffs, although strategic, underscore potential morale and productivity impacts pending operational restructuring.

• Apple announced its fourth round of layoffs for the year, affecting 100 jobs within its services division 🗓 2024-08-27.
• Apple executed job cuts across its books and news apps, reducing its workforce by around 3.17% over six months and 3.61% over the year 🗓 2024-08-28.

📜 Innovation & R&D

Innovation at Apple remains robust, with the company making strategic acquisitions to bolster its technological capabilities. Apple's focus on AI development and integration into its products signals a commitment to maintaining its competitive edge. This continued investment in R&D is crucial for sustaining long-term growth and market presence.

• Apple is reportedly considering the acquisition of Perplexity AI in what could be the company’s biggest-ever acquisition 🗓 2025-06-22.
• Apple doubled down on gaming by acquiring their first video game studio 🗓 2025-05-28.
• Apple unveiled new accessibility features set to debut later this year 🗓 2025-05-13.