An Apple employee is suing the company, alleging it violates workers’ privacy rights and subjects them to invasive surveillance, as reported by Semafor. The lawsuit, filed by Amar Bhakta on Monday, accuses Apple of accessing employee data via company-managed devices, including personal iPhones that the company reportedly encourages employees to use.
While Apple allows employees to use company-issued devices, the lawsuit claims it pressures workers to bring their own iPhones, which are then managed by Apple’s internal software. According to Bhakta, data from these devices, such as emails, photos, videos, and notes, are subject to Apple’s searches. Employees who use personal devices must link their iCloud accounts to the company’s system, allegedly enabling Apple to track their location and access other personal information even outside work hours.
Concerns about these practices have surfaced before, such as in a 2021 The Verge report highlighting data privacy issues among Apple employees. Apple, known for its secrecy, isn’t alone in facing such allegations, with companies like Google and Amazon also accused of employee surveillance.
Bhakta’s lawsuit describes Apple’s ecosystem as a “prison yard” rather than a “walled garden,” claiming employees are constantly monitored. The lawsuit further accuses Apple of illegal wage clawback practices and suppressing employee speech, citing instances where Bhakta was allegedly forbidden from discussing his experience in digital advertising or sharing details about his work at Apple on LinkedIn. Additionally, the National Labor Relations Board recently accused Apple of preventing employees from discussing pay equity.
Apple spokesperson Josh Rosenstock refuted the claims, stating in an email to The Verge that Apple is committed to protecting its innovations while respecting employees’ rights to discuss wages, hours, and working conditions. He described the allegations as lacking merit and emphasized that Apple trains employees on its business conduct policies annually.
