Security surrounding Apple's technological developments is back in the spotlight. after a delicate situation became public: one of its former employees is being accused of appropriating confidential information about the Apple Vision Pro. This device, known as the company's "space computer," has been affected by an alleged leak that could call into question not only its development process, but also the Cupertino company's internal data protection mechanisms.
The complaint was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court. On June 24, the lawsuit was filed against Di Liu, who was a senior product design engineer at the company for seven years. Apple claims Liu downloaded thousands of files containing classified information critical to the Vision Pro just before resigning, citing personal and health reasons. However, the company suspects that his departure coincided with his acceptance of a new position at Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat., which would have prevented the usual protocols from being activated to revoke their access to sensitive data.
Details of the alleged theft and destination of the information
According to the demand, Liu not only downloaded technical files, but also strategic plans, supply chain information, and details of unannounced features of the device.An internal audit of the laptop he used at Apple found that organized, renamed, and subsequently deleted key folders, suggesting that he may have attempted to erase any digital traces related to his activity.
The company maintains that there is a remarkable coincidence between the illicitly obtained information and Liu's current position at Snap.Despite this, Snap has issued a statement distancing itself from the investigation, stressing that it has not yet identified any connection between Liu's responsibilities and the stolen documents.
Legal implications and Apple's position
The case could have significant consequences for both Liu's professional future and Apple itself. In the lawsuit, the company demands financial compensation for damages., and requests the recovery of all compromised material. It also requests the opportunity to examine the former employee's personal devices and accounts to ensure that no sensitive data remains under his control.
This incident appears in a context where Leaks about unreleased Apple products are becoming more frequent.Before the official launch of the Vision Pro, details of its design have already emerged, adding pressure on the company to strengthen its confidentiality and data leak prevention policies.
The legal proceedings are still ongoing and the outcome will set a precedent for the protection of intellectual property. In the technology sector, where competition to innovate and maintain the exclusivity of advances is increasingly intense.
The theft of confidential material is a serious problem for any technology company, even more so in the case of strategic products like the Vision Pro, designed to open up new lines of business in the field of mixed reality. How Apple handles this issue will not only affect its image, but could also influence how the company and other industry players approach security and talent management in the future..
