WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are investigating whether Apple Inc. violated securities laws in its disclosures about a software update that slowed down older iPhone models, according to a media report Tuesday.

The government has requested information from the company, said the people, who asked not to be named because the probe is private, according to the Bloomberg report.

It said that the inquiry was in early stages and it was too soon to conclude any enforcement would follow.

In December last year, Apple confirmed the long-held suspicion of some users that it is deliberately limiting the iPhones' processing speed as they age.

Apple said that it planned to release a new software update that would allow iPhone users to turn off the feature that diminished performance later this spring.

In response to harsh criticism from users, Apple also offered users a discount on replacement batteries.

Apple's share fell by about 1 percent Tuesday afternoon in New York.