Apple Faces Espionage Accusations Over Employees' iPhones and iPads

Apple, a brand that always has the tag of security attached to it, is now facing a shocking controversy. A former employee has filed a lawsuit against the tech giant accusing it of spying on its workers through their personal devices, including iPhones and iPads. The allegations made by Amar Bhakta, a former member of Apple's Digital Advertising Department, raise serious concerns about violations of privacy within the company.

Bhakta, who worked at Apple since 2020, alleges that Apple has been conducting surveillance on employees' personal devices, violating their privacy rights. In his lawsuit, filed on December 1, 2024, in California State Court, Bhakta claims that Apple forces its employees to waive their right to privacy as part of their employment contract.

Serious Privacy Violations Alleged

According to Bhakta, Apple's policy compels employees to allow the company to monitor their physical, video, and electronic activities even when working from home. The lawsuit suggests that Apple's work ecosystem, in turn is more like a prison than a "walled garden," due to its susceptibility to constant supervision.

Bhakta further claims that Apple demands employees to use only those devices that are approved by the company for work. However, due to over-restrictive policies towards work devices, most of the employees use their personal devices for work. The company allegedly uses this policy to access personal data, like emails, photos, videos, and notes, even if the devices are used for personal purposes.

Freedom of Expression Under Threat

This suit further accuses Apple of limiting freedom of speech among employees. According to Bhakta, the company restricts employees from discussing their working conditions or salary and limits the political activities of the employees. Apple is said to limit the ability of workers to discuss their work and other operations of the company as this may be detrimental in future employment opportunities.

Bhakta also claims that Apple told him not to discuss his experiences in the Digital Advertising Department of Apple on a podcast and requested him to remove some aspects of his job on LinkedIn.

These serious accusations have raised alarm about privacy violations and the extent to which Apple monitors its employees. As the case unfolds, the tech world is closely watching how this lawsuit will impact Apple's reputation and its policies regarding employee privacy.

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