Apple Faces Allegations of Employee Surveillance and Silencing in Recent Lawsuit
Apple faces allegations of monitoring employees' personal devices and iCloud accounts. The lawsuit claims Apple restricts employees from discussing pay and working conditions. Apple refutes the claims, stating that employees are trained on their rights to discuss working conditions.
The complaint, filed in California state court by Amar Bhakta, a digital advertising employee at Apple, alleges that the company mandates the installation of software on personal devices used for work, granting Apple access to personal information such as email, photos, health data, and "smart home" details.
Moreover, the lawsuit claims that Apple enforces confidentiality policies that prohibit employees from discussing their working conditions, including with the media, and engaging in legally-protected whistleblowing. Bhakta, who has been with Apple since 2020, stated that he was restricted from discussing his work on podcasts and was directed to remove information about his working conditions from his LinkedIn profile.
According to the lawsuit, Apple's surveillance practices not only stifle employee whistleblowing but also impede competition, freedom of employee movement in the job market, and freedom of speech. In response to these allegations, Apple, through a spokesperson, dismissed the claims, stating that the lawsuit lacks merit and highlighting that employees receive annual training on their rights to discuss working conditions.
The legal representation for Bhakta also includes two women who previously filed a lawsuit in June, accusing Apple of systematically underpaying female employees in its engineering, marketing, and AppleCare divisions. Apple has reiterated its commitment to inclusion and pay equity amidst these accusations. Additionally, Apple is currently facing multiple complaints from a U.S. labor board, alleging that the company has unlawfully discouraged employees from discussing issues like sex bias and pay discrimination by limiting their use of social media and workplace messaging platforms.
The recent lawsuit was filed under a unique California law that empowers workers to sue their employers on behalf of the state and retain 35% of any penalties recovered.
Apple faces allegations of monitoring employees' personal devices and iCloud accounts.
The lawsuit claims Apple restricts employees from discussing pay and working conditions.
Apple refutes the claims, stating that employees are trained on their rights to discuss working conditions.
Source: REUTERS