Apple sues former iOS engineer for allegedly leaking Vision Pro, Journal app details

1 month ago

Apple is suing a erstwhile worker for leaking confidential information, including chartless specifications astir Apple’s Journal app, nan improvement of nan VisionOS headset, and more, to journalists and labor of different companies. The lawsuit, revenge 10 days agone successful California authorities tribunal (24CV433319, pdf), says Andrew Aude besides leaked regulatory compliance strategies, worker headcounts, and different merchandise hardware characteristics.

As reported antecedently by MacRumors, successful astatine slightest 1 message, nan institution says Aude claimed he leaked accusation “so he could “kill” products and features pinch which he took issue.”

Apple referenced galore of nan communications successful nan lawsuit:

Between June and September 2023 alone, Mr. Aude connected pinch a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) journalist, whom Mr. Aude codification named “Homeboy,” complete 1,400 times utilizing an encrypted messaging app. Mr. Aude besides publication “Homeboy” a last characteristic database for an unannounced Apple merchandise complete nan phone. Mr. Aude sent different journalist astatine The Information over 10,000 matter messages and traveled crossed nan continent to meet pinch her.

The pursuing screenshot of an encrypted connection speech connected nan Signal app betwixt Aude and a WSJ journalist appears successful nan complaint, arsenic Apple says, “Mr. Aude often took and saved screenshots of his communications connected his Apple-issued activity iPhone to sphere them for posterity.”

Apple

Apple accuses Aude of leaking a database of finalized features for Apple’s Journal app successful a telephone telephone that occurred successful April 2023 to nan aforesaid reporter. A communicative astir nan unreleased app’s features appeared that aforesaid period successful The Wall Street Journal.

Aude joined Apple successful 2016 arsenic an iOS technologist focused connected optimizing artillery performance. Apple’s lawyers constitute that nan quality of nan domiciled gave Aude entree to “information regarding dozens of Apple’s astir delicate products.”

The leaks weren’t discovered until precocious 2023, nan institution states. When representatives from Apple first sat down pinch Aude successful November 2023, he reportedly denied his engagement successful nan leaks and lied astir having his Apple-issued iPhone pinch him. Then, they claim, he faked needing to spell to nan bathroom, “extracted his iPhone from his pouch during nan break and permanently deleted important amounts of grounds from his device,” including nan Signal app.

Then, successful a 2nd gathering connected December 12th, nan title says “Mr. Aude admitted that he leaked accusation astir Apple’s strategies for regulatory compliance, unannounced products, improvement policies, and hardware characteristics of definite released products to astatine slightest 2 journalists.” He was fired 3 days later. Apple’s filing says nan institution is seeking a assemblage trial, damages, “restitution and/or disgorgement” of bonuses and banal options, positive “An bid directing Mr. Aude not to disclose Apple’s confidential and proprietary, accusation to 3rd parties without its written consent.”