Samsung Sued Over Smartphone Water Resistance Claims

A consumer watchdog group has sued Samsung in Australia for allegedly misleading claims about its smartphones. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleges that the Samsung commercials made false claims about users being able to use its phones while swimming and surfing. The ACCC says that it reviewed more than 300 Samsung advertisements before filing suit.

The ACCC says that Samsung ads depict the phones being exposed to seawater and swimming pools with a claim that the water wouldn’t affect the device during its working life. The advertisements tout an IP68 water resistance, says the ACCC. However, that rating doesn’t cover saltwater or water found in swimming pools reports the BBC.

Samsung’s website advised people against using their Galaxy S10 device in a pool or at the beach according to the watchdog. The ACCC says that Samsung hasn’t done enough research to make the claims it advertises about the longevity of its products.

“Samsung showed the Galaxy phones used in situations they shouldn’t be, to attract customers,” said the ACCC. If Samsung loses the case, it could be subject to significant fines.