Apple faces employee privacy violation allegation

Apple has been accused of tracking its employees through company-managed devices and violating their privacy rights. According to Semafor, in the lawsuit filed by employee Amar Bhakta, it is claimed that the company encourages employees to use their own devices for business purposes and collects data through these devices.

According to Bhakta’s claims, although Apple gives employees the option to use company-provided devices, it more encourages the use of personal iPhones for work. These devices are managed with Apple’s own software, and in accordance with company policies, all data on the devices such as e-mails, photos, videos, notes can be searched by Apple. The lawsuit also claims that employees were required to connect their personal iCloud accounts to this system, and thus Apple could access employees’ private data, such as location information, outside of work.

The lawsuit also alleges that Apple violated California law. It is stated that the company requires employees to accept a policy that allows physical, video and electronic surveillance. This surveillance policy can cover company devices and office environments, as well as, in some cases, areas where employees work from home.

This is not the first time this situation has come to the fore. In a report published by The Verge in 2021, data privacy concerns were expressed about employees being forced to connect their personal accounts and devices for work. Apple is known for its privacy and high level of secrecy in its product development processes. However, not only Apple but also other major technology companies such as Google and Amazon were accused of monitoring their employees.

According to the statement in the lawsuit, “The Apple ecosystem is not a walled garden for employees; a prison yard. “Whether on or off duty, employees are constantly monitored by Apple’s all-seeing eye.”

Apple denies the allegations

Bhakta also alleges that Apple has illegal payroll deduction policies and stifles employees’ freedom of expression. The lawsuit also states that Bhakta was banned from sharing his experiences with digital advertising and was forced to remove information about his work experience at Apple from his LinkedIn profile. Last month, the National Labor Relations Board alleged that Apple prohibited employees from talking about pay equity.

Apple spokesperson Josh Rosenstock said in a statement to The Verge: “At Apple, we focus on developing the best products and services for our customers. All our employees have the right to discuss their salaries, working hours and conditions. This is part of our business ethics policy and all employees are trained on this subject every year. “We strongly disagree with these allegations and think they have no basis,” he said.