Samsung Australia penalized $9.7 million for making false waterproof claims.

According to a report, the Federal Court has ordered Samsung Australia to pay a $14 million (about $9.7 million USD) fine for a deceptive advertising campaign. The commercials in question implied that certain of Samsung’s water-resistant phones may be used in pools and on beaches, despite the fact that Samsung’s website discourages such usage.

This campaign included advertising for Samsung’s Galaxy A, S7 & S8 handsets from March 2016 to October 2018. You may immerse them in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters since they are all IP68-rated devices. Saltwater and chlorinated pool water, on the other hand, aren’t covered by this rule.

In 2019, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) brought Samsung Australia to court on these claims, and the Federal Court has now ordered Samsung to make good on its obligations. According to Gina Cass-Gottlieb, the ACCC’s chair, there have been a large number of complaints from Galaxy users claiming their phones have malfunctioned or ceased working after being exposed to water. Using the phone in salt water or chlorinated water, and then charging it caused the port to corrode over time.