A current Apple employee has filed a lawsuit against the Apple, accusing the company of invasive surveillance practices that extend into workers’ personal lives.
The lawsuit, filed in California state court on Sunday, December 1, 2024, alleges that Apple systematically violates employee privacy rights and imposes restrictive policies on speech and activity.
Amar Bhakta, a digital advertising manager at Apple since 2020, claims that the company requires employees to surrender personal privacy rights by installing monitoring software on their own iPhones and linking personal iCloud accounts to work systems.
While the lawsuit shows that this allows Apple to access emails, photos, videos, location data, and other personal information, even when employees are off-duty.
Analyst at SemaFor and the complaint describe Apple’s workplace ecosystem as a “prison yard” where workers are subject to constant surveillance.
Bhakta alleges that the company’s policies violate California labor laws by enabling “physical, video, and electronic surveillance” of employees, including monitoring devices in home offices.
The Lawsuit
The lawsuit also highlights restrictions on employee communication. Bhakta claims Apple prohibited him from discussing his work on podcasts and demanded he remove professional details from his LinkedIn profile.
These alleged speech suppressions raise concerns about transparency and corporate control.
Apple has categorically denied the accusations. A company spokesperson stated that employees are annually trained on their right to discuss wages, hours, and working conditions, and that Apple strongly disagrees with the lawsuit’s claims.
The legal action seeks damages for labor code violations and aims to protect California Apple employees from future potential privacy infringements.
Filed under the California Private Attorneys General Act, the lawsuit could result in significant penalties if Apple is found liable.
This case underscores the ongoing debate about employee privacy in the tech sector, highlighting the challenges companies face in balancing operational efficiency with individual rights.
It also raises critical questions about the extent of digital surveillance in modern workplaces and the blurring of boundaries between personal and professional life in an increasingly connected world.
As the lawsuit progresses, it could potentially trigger significant policy changes at Apple, set examples for employee privacy rights, and prompt an industry-wide re-evaluation of monitoring practices.
