Apple’s Error 53 in iPhones potentially breaks consumer laws, according to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission. The ACCC has launched an investigation into the multinational tech giant’s security measure, the so-called Error 53, which users initially thought was a bug.

Without warning users, Apple had a security measure installed in iPhones, which can be rendered useless if repaired by others not authorised by the tech company. This is what the ACCC wants to investigate: the lack of warning or reimbursement to users affected. The consumer watchdog will determine if Apple violated any consumer laws in Australia.

“In particular, the ACCC is examining whether this practice contravenes the consumer guarantee and false and misleading representations provisions of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The ACCC would also be concerned about any practices which restrict competition, including through access to parts or data,” an ACCC rep said in a statement.

Error 53

Users have recently complained that an error code that appeared on their iPhones that were repaired by unauthorised repair provides. The Guardian reported earlier this month about the thousands of iPhones that were left almost worthless after the phones were permanently disabled if their operating system detected that a repair was done by a non-Apple technician.

It was called “Error 53,” which, according to a specialist journalist, “will kill your iPhone. The issue affected handsets where the home button, which has the touch ID fingerprint recognition feature, was repaired, as well as phones that were damaged but were still used without the need for a repair.

The problem was discovered only when the latest version of iOS 9 was installed. The phones were then rendered useless, and any data on the users saved on their handset were lost and irretrievable.

Tech experts told the Guardian that Apple knew about the problem – which users first thought was a bug – but did not warn users about it.

Apple claimed that it was a security feature designed to protect the users, and not to punish them for turning to an unauthorised repair provider.

“We take customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks designed to protect our customers,” the company said in a statement to Gizmodo, adding the security measure is necessary to prevent fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. “If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support.”

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