Apple Sued Over Alleged Workplace Spying, Speech Suppression

Apple is facing a new lawsuit filed in California, alleging illegal monitoring of employees’ personal devices and suppression of workplace discussions, according to Reuters.

Amar Bhakta, a digital advertising worker at Apple, claims the company requires employees to install software on personal devices, granting access to emails, photos, health data, and more. The suit also accuses Apple of enforcing strict confidentiality policies that stifle whistleblowing.

According to Bhakta, Apple discouraged him from discussing his job publicly, including through podcasts or LinkedIn, where he was allegedly instructed to remove workplace details.

The lawsuit suggests Apple’s actions infringe on workers’ rights, particularly around free speech and whistleblowing. Bhakta has worked at Apple since 2020 and asserts that these policies create a chilling effect on employees who might otherwise speak out about workplace concerns.

Apple denies the claims, stating that employees are annually trained on their rights to discuss working conditions. The company’s spokesperson emphasized its focus on protecting intellectual property while supporting employee rights.

The suit is the latest in a series of legal challenges faced by Apple regarding labor practices. Earlier, Apple faced lawsuits over alleged gender pay disparities and multiple National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) complaints. These included accusations of suppressing discussions about pay equity on internal platforms like Slack.

Former employees have also alleged Apple maintained restrictive policies that discouraged transparency and penalized workers who raised concerns.

This latest lawsuit, filed under California’s Private Attorneys General Act, allows employees to sue on behalf of the state and claim a share of any penalties awarded.