Australian competition watchdog to investigate Apple over iPhone 'error 53'

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will demand Apple explain message that disables handset if it detects repairs by non-Apple technicians

The competition watchdog says it will ask Apple to urgently explain an error message disabling iPhone users' handsets and is considering whether it breaches Australian consumer law.

Last week the Guardian revealed thousands of iPhone 6 users have received "error 53", which permanently disables the handset if it detects that a repair has been carried out by a non-Apple technician.