Apple Inc. is facing a lawsuit filed in California state court, alleging illegal surveillance of its employees and violations of worker rights.
The complaint, lodged by Amar Bhakta, a digital advertising employee at Apple since 2020, claims that the tech giant mandates its workers to install software on their personal devices, granting the company access to private information such as emails, photos, health data, and “smart home” details.
The lawsuit accuses Apple of conducting unauthorized monitoring of personal devices and iCloud accounts, while simultaneously enforcing confidentiality policies that prohibit employees from discussing their pay and working conditions. Bhakta asserts that he was forbidden from discussing his work on podcasts and was instructed to remove references to his working conditions from his LinkedIn profile.
According to the lawsuit, Apple’s surveillance practices stifle employee whistleblowing and hinder employees’ freedom to express themselves. Bhakta argues that the company's policies create an atmosphere that discourages competition, free movement in the job market, and the fundamental right to free speech.
In response to the allegations, Apple denied the claims, asserting that the lawsuit lacks merit. A company spokesperson stated that Apple provides annual training to its workers regarding their rights to discuss 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 against Apple in June, accusing the company of systemic pay discrimination against female workers in its engineering, marketing, and AppleCare divisions.
The women claim that Apple’s reliance on previous salaries and pay expectations for setting starting wages results in lower pay for women, and that the company’s performance evaluation system is biased against them. Apple, however, maintains that it has achieved and maintained gender pay equity since 2017, with annual third-party reviews to ensure fairness.
This lawsuit adds to a series of ongoing complaints against Apple, including at least three cases filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board. These complaints allege that the company has unlawfully discouraged employees from discussing issues such as pay discrimination and workplace bias, restricting their use of social media and communication tools like the Slack messaging app.
The complaint, filed under California’s unique labor law, allows workers to sue employers on behalf of the state, with 35% of any recovered penalties going to the plaintiffs.
