Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
thats the online equivalent of asking „why did she wear this?“
After thinking a bit about your response, I disagree. There is no expectation of privacy with "why did she wear this?". It's the opposite, actually. They're wearing something so sheer or short or whatever there is an expectation that you will look.

In this case, naked pics/videos stored on a private device that is touted to be highly secure has some expectation of privacy, but the problem is, nothing is 100% secure. This girl found out the hard way. In this day and age of hackers, breaches, and the risks of putting sensitive information in the cloud, I would certainly think twice before keeping something on my phone/cloud that would be devastating to me if it became public.

But maybe that's just me.
 
This got me thinking. A few years ago I had a hard drive go out on my iMac. I took it in to Apple and they replaced it. I wonder what happened to the old hard drive? It wasn't function but I wonder what do they do with the old drives? Hmmmm
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
Only problem is if your device is dead and won't power on... can't hard reset/wipe it (and if it is a computer, none of them are end-user serviceable anymore so you can't remove the hard drive/SSD to backup data and/or wipe it via other methods).

If Apple's outsourced technicians manage to resurrect such a device then you are at their mercy to protect your privacy.

I think Apple could change the procedure so that technicians are required to wipe the device first. They could ask to have the device connected for opening the ticket, and at the same time the system also wipes the device.

If the device is so damanged that the system cannot communicate with it and wipe it, it's most likely outside the type of repairs Apple service centers do anyway.
 
  • Love
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
The source article says that the woman is 21 years old, and that the original incident happened 5 years ago (2016). So was she 21 at the time of the incident, or was she 16? Because if she was 16 at the time, those techs could be in for a world of hurt (and rightfully so).
 
This is exactly why have to oppose Right To Repair! ONly Apple is trustworthy enough to protect the privacy of clients!



Oh... wait...

oops.

This wasn't "Apple as a company" that broke the trust, but a Pegatron technician. It's this oversimplification that is dangerous ground.

Let's hope the individual people responsible were punished accordingly.

Many millions of dollars because of a few photos. Wow. I understand there was significant distress, but that seems like an excessively huge "win", and I hope she's not publicly blaming Apple as a whole, because that's damaging, too. Should Apple sue her if she does cause damage to the brand? 😳 Not saying that she is, but fair is fair.
 
Wow! Good for her!

I wonder, how did they actually unlock the phone? Maybe it didn’t have a passcode enabled? (To be clear, even if it didn’t, that doesn’t excuse going through her photos, much less sharing them!)
When they take a phone for repair your required to unlock it. In the case where I took my phone for repair I backed it up and wiped it clean. Not sure what you can do about an inoperable phone, anyone have an idea?
 
iOS/iPadOS need a Secure Folder feature.

Yeah, was thinking about that the other day. Would be nice to be able to provide some extra protection for certain photos or files. For example the other day when I was on my dog walk I found the remains of a cat that was taken by Coyotes. I remember seeing earlier on NextDoor that someone was missing a cat. So I snapped a picture (it was somewhat gory) to compare when I got back and maybe send to the poster if they wanted and I thought it matched (it didn't). But then was thinking about my friends daughter (6) who I watch sometimes likes to play on one of my iPads and routinely likes to browse through the pictures. That isn't something I'd want her to see and I would have hated to forget to delete it. Hide works a little, but she is pretty smart ;).

Maybe we will see something today!
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
When I took my iMac in for repair I made a separate account for them to use, they wasn’t getting access to my personal account. When I take in an iphone or iPad, I wipe it first and restore after repair.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AxiomaticRubric
Yeah good question. Seems like something like that should be considered a criminal offense though.

Best I can find. It is illegal in California, Penal Code Section 647(J)(4) PC. But it is a misdemeanor and the maximum penalties are minor. Being up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine.

I also expect any tech related case is difficult to prosecute. Meaning that for such a light penalty. The District Attorney would pass on the case. There may also not be enough evidence.

Even if they could prove who did it. This law also gives the defendant an out. By claiming no intent to cause emotional distress. In which case the prosecutor would have to prove intent. In order for the law to apply.

In cases where the person knew they were being recorded or photographed. That law gives a lot of wiggle room a lawyer could make use of. To get them off completely or maybe plea down to a couple months of probation. The law may not even apply as they are a third party who came across existing photos/videos and uploaded them.

At any rate. Most misdemeanors have at most a one year statute of limitations. As it appears the intention of all parties was to keep this quiet and out of court. Until the insurer balked. Any possible chance of prosecution has long since passed.
 
Well that sucks! First off, shame on that girl for having uncensored content 😂 Secondly, should of backed up her iOS and deleted those pics/vid. Third, you are required to write your PIN, give consent to Apple and sign. 🤦🏻‍♀️This girl knew what she was getting into, pretty sure. Her plan was to make mills one way or another.
I had to send my iPad to Apple for screen repair, had no problem. They fixed it, and the thing was reseted.
 
I was at an Apple Store over the weekend arranging a repair and the Genius I spoke to mentioned that (in the UK at least) Apple have changed their data protection policies to no longer request a password.
I had the same experience here in Canada recently and was pleasantly surprised they no longer needed my password and thus access to my private information (were I to leave any on a device sent in for repair). In the past I was required to provide a password. It is entirely likely this lawsuit forced this change in policy and procedures. I am sorry this person had to take the hit for the team but I have to think $5 million helps, at least a little.
 
My issue is the nondisclosure clause. Basically, it comes off as Apple paying her off to shut her up and keep the negative publicity at bay.

If I were her I'd have drawn a hard line on that issue. Someone did something horrible to me. I deserve to be able to talk about it. I might need to talk about it to deal with the emotions. Am I forbidden from even talking to my family/friends/partner/etc. about the situation? "I'm sorry I'm distant sexually, but I can't tell you why because of legal reasons...???"

I understand Apple as a company didn't condone this in any way. But it still happened. The device was in Apple's care (no pun intended) when it happened. A person in Apple's employ was responsible, whether directly or indirectly. What Apple should do is rake those particular techs over the coals as hard as they can, in public, to 1) show they wholeheartedly disapprove and 2) to warn other techs what will happen to you if you screw around. Criminal charges should be filed against that tech. And yes, Apple should pay the victim some restitution, but with no strings attached. Instead it just ends up looking like Apple going "We must not have any bad press. We're super rich. A college kid will do anything for $5M. Shut her up and let's go on with business as usual..."

Imagine a world where a rapist could pay off their victims in exchange for them being silent about the rape - and this was legally enforceable...
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.