Apple is facing a new lawsuit that accuses the company of illegally monitoring its employees’ personal devices and iCloud accounts, while also imposing confidentiality policies that prevent workers from discussing their pay and working conditions.
The lawsuit, filed in California state court on Sunday by Amar Bhakta, who works in digital advertising for Apple, claims that the company requires employees to install software on their personal devices that grants Apple access to sensitive information. This includes access to personal email, photo libraries, health data, and other private details such as “smart home” information.
Bhakta, who has been employed by Apple since 2020, also claims that the company enforces strict policies that prohibit employees from discussing their working conditions with the media or among themselves. These policies, the lawsuit argues, interfere with employees’ legally protected rights to engage in whistleblowing activities. Bhakta himself alleges that he was forbidden from talking about his job on podcasts and was ordered to remove references to his work and conditions from his LinkedIn profile.
The complaint states that Apple’s surveillance practices “chill, and thus unlawfully restrain,” employees’ rights to whistleblow, compete freely, move within the job market, and exercise free speech.
In response to the lawsuit, Apple issued a statement asserting that the claims lack merit. A company spokesperson emphasized that all Apple employees are trained annually on their rights to discuss their working conditions. “At Apple, we’re focused on creating the best products and services in the world and we work to protect the inventions our teams create for customers,” the statement read.
Bhakta’s legal team also represents two women who filed a lawsuit in June, alleging that Apple systematically underpays female employees in its engineering, marketing, and AppleCare departments. Apple has publicly stated its commitment to inclusion and pay equity.
In addition to this lawsuit, Apple is facing at least three complaints filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board. These complaints accuse the company of illegally deterring employees from discussing issues like gender bias and pay discrimination, including by restricting the use of social media and the workplace messaging app Slack. Apple has denied these allegations.
The lawsuit was filed under a unique California law that allows workers to sue on behalf of the state, with plaintiffs keeping 35% of any penalties recovered. If successful, the lawsuit could lead to significant penalties for Apple, adding to the growing scrutiny the company faces over its workplace practices.
