AppleThe tech giant that built its reputation on protecting its customers’ privacy now faces a lawsuit that claims its own employees don’t get the same treatment. Amar Bhakta, an employee of Apple’s advertising technology division, accused the company of intruding into workers’ personal lives through iCloud accounts and non-work devices. (h/t: Semafor)

Filed in a California state court last Sunday, Bhakta’s complaint alleges that Apple expects its employees to give up their privacy as part of their jobs. The company, it claims, reserves the right to monitor workers through video, physical surveillance and electronic tracking, even when they are off-duty or no longer working at Apple. The lawsuit also mentions that Apple discouraged him from speaking publicly about his area of ​​expertise and even forced him to clean up his LinkedIn profile to remove references to his role.

Unsurprisingly, Apple disagrees. In the statement below, the company said it supports employees’ rights to discuss their working conditions, including pay and hours, as outlined in its Business Conduct Policy. According to Apple, every employee receives training on this policy every year.

“Every employee has the right to discuss their pay, hours and working conditions and this is part of our Business Conduct Policy, on which all employees are trained annually. »

The heart of the problem appears to be Apple’s policy of requiring employees to use Apple devices for work purposes, which, combined with restrictions on company-owned devices, often leads to employees using their personal devices . iPhone and Mac. This in turn requires the use of personal iCloud accounts, allegedly exposing personal data to company control.

For employees who prefer not to have their personal lives exposed, the alternative isn’t much better. The suit claims that Apple “actively discourages” the creation of separate iCloud accounts for business purposes, making it nearly impossible to avoid this mixing of business and personal data.

The case was filed under California’s Private Attorneys General Act, which allows employees to sue on behalf of the state for labor law violations. If the court rules against Apple, the company could face heavy penalties linked to the number of employees affected.

This case will likely be closely watched, as it could have significant implications for the privacy rights of employees of tech companies and beyond. Big companies have long been criticized for blurring the lines between work and personal life, and this case could set a precedent for the extent to which employers can push those boundaries.