Apple sues former iOS engineer for allegedly leaking Imaginative and prescient Professional, Journal app particulars

Apple is suing a former worker for leaking confidential data, together with unknown particulars about Apple’s Journal app, the event of the VisionOS headset, and extra, to journalists and staff of different firms. The lawsuit, filed ten days in the past in California state courtroom (24CV433319, pdf), says Andrew Aude additionally leaked regulatory compliance methods, worker headcounts, and different product {hardware} traits.

As reported beforehand by MacRumors, in at the very least one message, the corporate says Aude claimed he leaked data “so he may “kill” merchandise and options with which he took situation.”

Apple referenced most of the communications within the lawsuit:

Between June and September 2023 alone, Mr. Aude linked with a Wall Avenue Journal (WSJ) journalist, whom Mr. Aude code named “Homeboy,” over 1,400 occasions utilizing an encrypted messaging app. Mr. Aude additionally learn “Homeboy” a remaining function record for an unannounced Apple product over the telephone. Mr. Aude despatched one other journalist at The Info over 10,000 textual content messages and traveled throughout the continent to fulfill together with her.

The next screenshot of an encrypted message trade on the Sign app between Aude and a WSJ journalist seems within the grievance, as Apple says, “Mr. Aude typically took and saved screenshots of his communications on his Apple-issued work iPhone to protect them for posterity.”

Apple accuses Aude of leaking a listing of finalized options for Apple’s Journal app in a telephone name that occurred in April 2023 to the identical reporter. A narrative concerning the unreleased app’s options appeared that very same month in The Wall Avenue Journal. 

Aude joined Apple in 2016 as an iOS engineer targeted on optimizing battery efficiency. Apple’s legal professionals write that the character of the function gave Aude entry to “data concerning dozens of Apple’s most delicate merchandise.”

The leaks weren’t found till late 2023, the corporate states. When representatives from Apple first sat down with Aude in November 2023, he reportedly denied his involvement within the leaks and lied about having his Apple-issued iPhone with him. Then, they declare, he faked needing to go to the toilet, “extracted his iPhone from his pocket through the break and completely deleted important quantities of proof from his system,” together with the Sign app.

Then, in a second assembly on December twelfth, the grievance says “Mr. Aude admitted that he leaked details about Apple’s methods for regulatory compliance, unannounced merchandise, growth insurance policies, and {hardware} traits of sure launched merchandise to at the very least two journalists.” He was fired three days later. Apple’s submitting says the corporate is in search of a jury trial, damages, “restitution and/or disgorgement” of bonuses and inventory choices, plus “An order directing Mr. Aude to not disclose Apple’s confidential and proprietary, data to 3rd events with out its written consent.”