An Apple employee, Amar Bhakta, has filed a lawsuit against the tech giant, alleging that the company monitors staff through personal devices and imposes restrictive policies on speech and activities. Bhakta, who works in Apple’s digital advertising team, claims that the company mandates employees to use Apple products for work but imposes significant restrictions, forcing staff to rely on personal devices like iPhones and iPads. These devices, according to the lawsuit, are subject to Apple’s surveillance policies, allowing the company to access personal data, including emails, photos, and notes linked to employees’ accounts. Bhakta described Apple’s ecosystem as a “panopticon,” suggesting constant surveillance even outside of work hours.
The lawsuit also accuses Apple of suppressing employees’ freedom of speech. Bhakta alleges he was prohibited from discussing workplace conditions, pay, and political activities, including being instructed to remove professional information from his LinkedIn profile and refraining from participating in podcasts about his digital advertising expertise.
In response, Apple stated that the allegations lack merit and emphasized that employees are trained annually on their rights to discuss working conditions. This lawsuit is part of a growing number of legal challenges Apple faces regarding its workplace practices, including accusations of gender pay disparities and suppressing discussions on workplace discrimination.
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