Apple faces a lawsuit for allegedly spying on its employees' iPhones.
An employee claims that Apple monitors its workers.
An Apple employee has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that it requires its workers to waive their right to privacy and subject them to surveillance. Amar Bhakta, an Apple employee, claims that the company accesses workers' information through devices managed by the company, including personal iPhones that they are "actively encouraged" to use.
Although Apple offers the option to use a company device for work, Bhakta argues that employees are pressured to use their own iPhones, which are managed through Apple's internal software. According to the lawsuit, data related to these Apple-controlled devices, which includes emails, photos, videos, notes, and other information, is "subject to search by Apple."
The plaintiff also alleges that by using their own devices, workers must link their personal iCloud accounts to the company, which supposedly allows Apple to collect location data and other employee information even outside of working hours. Furthermore, the lawsuit argues that Apple violates California law by requiring employees to accept a policy that permits "physical, video, and electronic surveillance," as well as the ability to inspect both Apple and non-Apple devices on company premises, which in some cases could even extend to employees' home offices.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about these policies, as a 2021 report had revealed worries about data privacy among Apple employees who are forced to link their personal accounts and devices to their work. Apple is known for its high level of secrecy regarding its operations and new product launches, which has also come under scrutiny alongside other major companies like Google and Amazon for surveillance practices.
The lawsuit asserts that for Apple employees, the company’s ecosystem is not a safe environment, but rather a situation of constant control. Bhakta also accuses Apple of illegal policies related to wage recovery and claims that the company suppresses the free expression of its workers. The legal document mentions instances where Apple allegedly "prohibited" Bhakta from speaking publicly about his experience in digital advertising and forced him to delete information about his work at Apple from his LinkedIn profile. Recently, the National Labor Relations Board accused Apple of restricting its employees from discussing pay equity.
An Apple spokesperson, Josh Rosenstock, issued a statement saying: "At Apple, we focus on creating the best products and services in the world and work to protect the innovations that our teams create for customers. Every employee has the right to discuss their pay, hours, and working conditions, and this is part of our business conduct policy, which all employees are trained on annually. We strongly disagree with these claims and believe they are unfounded."
