In a recent legal battle, Apple is under fire for allegedly infiltrating employees’ personal lives and stifling their voices. The lawsuit, filed in California, accuses the tech giant of secretly monitoring workers’ private devices and cloud accounts while imposing gag orders about workplace conditions.
Amar Bhakta, a digital advertising employee at Apple since 2020, spearheads the complaint, alleging that the company forces staff to install software on personal devices used for work. This software purportedly grants Apple access to a trove of private data, from emails to health and smart home details. Alongside these invasive measures, Bhakta claims Apple enforces strict confidentiality policies, barring discussions about pay, workplace challenges, and whistleblowing.
Bhakta says he was silenced on multiple occasions, including being told to erase work-related details from his LinkedIn profile and refrain from podcast discussions about his job. According to the lawsuit, these practices suppress employee rights and hinder free speech, whistleblowing, and job market mobility.
Apple responded to the allegations, stating the claims lack merit. The company emphasized its commitment to educating employees on their rights and protecting the innovations of its teams.
This isn’t Apple’s first brush with controversy regarding employee treatment. Earlier this year, two women accused the company of systemic gender-based pay discrimination. The company has also faced labor board complaints for allegedly discouraging workers from discussing sensitive issues like pay equity and workplace bias.
The lawsuit invokes a California law allowing employees to act on behalf of the state against their employers, with potential penalties partially benefiting the plaintiffs. As legal challenges mount, Apple’s employee policies are drawing intensified scrutiny.
