Apple Faces Lawsuit Over Employee Surveillance and Worker Rights Violations
Apple Inc. is under legal scrutiny following a lawsuit filed in a California state court accusing the company of illegal surveillance practices and suppressing employee rights. The complaint, brought forward by Amar Bhakta, a digital advertising employee at Apple since 2020, alleges that the company requires its workers to install software on their personal devices that grants access to private information, including emails, photos, health data, and smart home details.
Allegations Against Apple
Bhakta claims Apple monitors employees’ personal devices and iCloud accounts without authorization. Additionally, he asserts that the company enforces restrictive confidentiality policies, barring employees from discussing their pay, working conditions, or other workplace-related issues. Bhakta revealed he was instructed to avoid discussing his work on podcasts and to remove LinkedIn references to his working environment.
The lawsuit argues that these policies suppress whistleblowing, limit free speech, and discourage competition and job market mobility.
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Apple’s Response
Apple denies the claims, asserting that the lawsuit lacks merit. A company spokesperson emphasized Apple’s commitment to providing annual training for employees regarding their rights to discuss working conditions. “At Apple, we’re focused on creating the best products and services in the world and work to protect the inventions our teams create for customers,” the statement said.
Broader Allegations Against Apple
Bhakta’s legal team also represents two women who sued Apple in June, alleging systemic pay discrimination in engineering, marketing, and AppleCare divisions. The plaintiffs claim Apple’s reliance on prior salaries and pay expectations perpetuates lower wages for women and that its performance evaluations are biased.
Apple counters that it has achieved gender pay equity since 2017, with annual third-party audits to ensure fairness.
Additionally, Apple is facing at least three cases filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board. These complaints allege the company has unlawfully discouraged employees from discussing workplace issues, including pay discrimination, and imposed restrictive policies on the use of communication tools like Slack.
Legal Framework and Potential Outcomes
The lawsuit was filed under California’s Private Attorneys General Act, which allows workers to sue employers on behalf of the state. If penalties are awarded, 35% will go to the plaintiffs, with the remainder benefiting the state.
This case adds to a growing list of legal challenges faced by Apple, highlighting ongoing concerns about employee rights, workplace fairness, and corporate practices within the tech industry.
