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

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

As reported beforehand by MacRumors, in no less than one message, the corporate says Aude claimed he leaked info “so he might “kill” merchandise and options with which he took difficulty.”

Apple referenced most of the communications within the lawsuit:

Between June and September 2023 alone, Mr. Aude linked with a Wall Road Journal (WSJ) journalist, whom Mr. Aude code named “Homeboy,” over 1,400 instances utilizing an encrypted messaging app. Mr. Aude additionally learn “Homeboy” a closing function listing for an unannounced Apple product over the cellphone. Mr. Aude despatched one other journalist at The Data over 10,000 textual content messages and traveled throughout the continent to satisfy along with her.

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

Apple accuses Aude of leaking an inventory of finalized options for Apple’s Journal app in a cellphone 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 Road 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 position gave Aude entry to “info 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 lavatory, “extracted his iPhone from his pocket in the course of the break and completely deleted vital quantities of proof from his gadget,” together with the Sign app.

Then, in a second assembly on December twelfth, the criticism says “Mr. Aude admitted that he leaked details about Apple’s methods for regulatory compliance, unannounced merchandise, improvement insurance policies, and {hardware} traits of sure launched merchandise to no less than two journalists.” He was fired three days later. Apple’s submitting says the corporate is looking for 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, info to 3rd events with out its written consent.”