Apple fired the father of the viral YouTuber

[naturalstar]

I haven’t read all the posts yet, but my first thought is Dad shouldn’t have indulged his daughter.

Growing up and hanging out with my Dad at his job from time to time, whenever I thought about doing something that would jeopardize his job, he was quick to let me know I couldn’t do it. He was the parent, I obeyed even when I didn’t quite understand the why behind it.

Whenever I took my son with me to work, I also made sure he understood what he could and couldn’t do. He could help me in some ways, but in others, he couldn’t because of the rules. He didn’t question it. He understood that Momma’s paycheck led to him being able to get both his needs and especially his wants met. He knew this from a very early age too.

Having worked in certain industries, including wireless telecom, I know what it’s like to have access to tech that hasn’t been introduced and wanting to share with your loved ones. I’d let my husband in on some things - spouses do that - but he knew better than to go blabbing. Just like I know better about his line of work as well.

Maybe they thought some employee privilege or ranking would cover them. Who knows, but this is definitely a lesson to their family. A dream job (for some) lost for a few minutes of YouTube fame. Hope they recover from this. Job loss is no fun.

 

[kazmac]

Not surprised. The father violated company NDA rules. It's too bad but I understand why it happened.

 

[shyam09]

she had maybe 20 subscribers..

the thing went viral and she's probably the most surprised out of anybody in this regard..

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idk, i think she tells the story honestly and at face value.. others are sensationalizing it. (i mean, it's not even a big deal to begin with.. dude loses job at Apple.. big deal.. he'll be fine.)

the problem i have personally with any of this are the comments by others.. here and at youtube:

Honestly, you’re a ****ing idiot; anyone with common sense would know not to post videos like that online where people can be identified. Sure your dad was at fault for not following NDA, but you plastered that **** all over the internet. Your fake guilt is also extremely cringe, and you managed to make the video all about you, attention whore.
​

seriously?
the situation is unfortunate.
the gossipy actions and outright mean spirited reactions are much much worse (imo)

let them be.. let them deal with responsiblitly and whatnot as a family.. it's not our business to judge them.. they didn't break any of our laws.

It doesn't matter how many subscribers she had. It was still available for public search.

Anyhow, I agree with the latter part. It sucks what happened and the negative reactions make no sense. After watching the video a second time and a few google searches -- it seems that people found out about the father getting fired after the video was uploaded, and the name calling and hate she mentions may have been on the original video (since the theory back then was either an Apple marketing ploy). I think the best thing she should have done is ignore the hate instead of address it.

 

[circatee]

Like others have mentioned, not sure why the daughter is surprised...

 

[iMi]

Let’s ask the people whose names, meeting info and project names were revealed how they feel.

These people are not working for the CIA. They are not handing classified info. These are not government assets. These are nerds who work for a computer company. They make gadgets and computers, not protecting national security.

Let’s not make this into something that it is not. I’ll bet you will learn what these people do by visiting Linked In... it would be interesting what they have to say.

This is being blown out of proportion.

 

[Leica Dad]

In their defense, this whole thing happened after the announcement. Which the hands on videos were already all over YouTube(All hands on are on Apple campus of course).
It looks like her dad had an iPhone X for a while, he didn’t shared with her or let her film it before the announcement. I believe it’s just an innocent mistake, which they did pay the price for it.
I’m more concern about the internet bullying that’s happening to their family now, his is between Apple and them, why are so many irrelevant people has so much anger towards the family.

 

[artfossil]

These people are not working for the CIA. They are not handing classified info. These are not government assets. These are nerds who work for a computer company. They make gadgets and computers, not protecting national security.

Let’s not make this into something that it is not. I’ll bet you will learn what these people do by visiting Linked In... it would be interesting what they have to say.

This is being blown out of proportion.

I don’t work for the CIA. I am not a government asset. I reasonably expect that my proprietary information will not be posted on YouTube by inept colleagues. If Apple hasn’t fired him for violations of NDAs, I would have fired him for stupidity.

 

[alee]

I believe it’s just an innocent mistake, which they did pay the price for it.

If you ever saw these agreements, you wouldn't think it was an innocent mistake. It was a gross violation.

I’m more concern about the internet bullying that’s happening to their family now, his is between Apple and them, why are so many irrelevant people has so much anger towards the family.

Unfortunately that's just how the Internet is - it's been like that forever, even when it was alt.newsgroups.

 

[iMi]

In their defense, this whole thing happened after the announcement. Which the hands on videos were already all over YouTube(All hands on are on Apple campus of course).
It looks like her dad had an iPhone X for a while, he didn’t shared with her or let her film it before the announcement. I believe it’s just an innocent mistake, which they did pay the price for it.
I’m more concern about the internet bullying that’s happening to their family now, his is between Apple and them, why are so many irrelevant people has so much anger towards the family.

You nailed it. I totally agree, especially about the bullying. She’s a sweet kid and they are clearly a loving family and decent people. We all make mistakes. Everyone here making these righteous posts should ask themselves if they ever made a mistake.

It really is sad. People taking badly about a person that until recently was hard at work designing products you all love. I don’t get it. As Americans, we are losing empathy and I don’t get it.

 

[myscrnnm]

These people are not working for the CIA. They are not handing classified info. These are not government assets. These are nerds who work for a computer company. They make gadgets and computers, not protecting national security.

Let’s not make this into something that it is not. I’ll bet you will learn what these people do by visiting Linked In... it would be interesting what they have to say.

This is being blown out of proportion.

I think you're taking an overly simplistic view of the situation. Wars aren't fought between nations anymore. Power lies in the hands of corporations. In any case, it's the principle. Even if no confidential information was leaked, he created the potential for it to happen.

 

[iMi]

I don’t work for the CIA. I am not a government asset. I reasonably expect that my proprietary information will not be posted on YouTube by inept colleagues. If Apple hasn’t fired him for violations of NDAs, I would have fired him for stupidity.

I don’t think people care that much and no proprietary information was shared. Again, I respect your opinion but don’t agree. It’s all blown out of proportion in my opinion.

Again, I’m not a corporate guy. Maybe I don’t get it. Seems kind of ridiculous to me.

 

[bambooshots]

These people are not working for the CIA. They are not handing classified info. These are not government assets. These are nerds who work for a computer company. They make gadgets and computers, not protecting national security.

Let’s not make this into something that it is not. I’ll bet you will learn what these people do by visiting Linked In... it would be interesting what they have to say.

This is being blown out of proportion.

Some corporations are larger than governments.

These gadgets that they're working on could be worth hundreds of millions or billions of dollars. That's a lot of money. That's worth "CIA" level security and secrecy. These corporations take stuff like this very seriously.

 

[alee]

This is being blown out of proportion.

Contract was violated - employee was terminated. Plain and simple.

If you didn't pay your rent or mortgage, the landlord or bank would evict you based on the terms of your contract. This is exactly the same scenario.

 

[symphony]

Like what?

Like perhaps Tim had an intimate relationship with her father? Tim probably found out he had a family and sought a way to get rid of him. He gives an iPhone X to her father (doesn’t tell him about the NDA, and to keep it a secret), then he shows it to his daughter. Causing a chain of events leading to Tim firing her father. Is this possible? No.

 

[mcdj]

These people are not working for the CIA. They are not handing classified info. These are not government assets. These are nerds who work for a computer company. They make gadgets and computers, not protecting national security.

Let’s not make this into something that it is not. I’ll bet you will learn what these people do by visiting Linked In... it would be interesting what they have to say.

This is being blown out of proportion.

Apple is worth more than the GDP of many many countries...countries with armies.

Of course they take this stuff seriously. Of course the info they are handling is classified. Just because you don’t think it’s a big deal doesn’t mean Apple doesn’t. Or their shareholders.

Case in point, I worked at a retouching studio which was hired for an iPad ad campaign for the iPad 1.

We had to install fingerprint readers and deadbolt locks on every room where the images would be worked on. Hard drives containing the final images had to be hand couriered to the ad agency. We had to send a couple of retouchers to the photo studio during the shoot, and everyone st the studio had to leave their cell phone with a security guard. The NDA we signed were about 40 pages long.

And this was all for a campaign that was coming out 10 months after the iPad 1 had been released. There was no new hardware. No secret new features. Just some ads.

 

[iMi]

I think you're taking an overly simplistic view of the situation. Wars aren't fought between nations anymore. Power lies in the hands of corporations. In any case, it's the principle. Even if no confidential information was leaked, he created the potential for it to happen.

Potential to happen? So, it’s a Minority Report now? Corporations want to protect intellectual property. I get it, but what actual damage was done?

I just don’t see it. Someone said a contract was violated and he was fired. Ok, that’s fair. I can see a technical reason here but this still doesn’t make it the best business decision in my opinion.

 

[myscrnnm]

Potential to happen? So, it’s a Minority Report now? Corporations want to protect intellectual property. I get it, but what actual damage was done?

I just don’t see it. Someone said a contract was violated and he was fired. Ok, that’s fair. I can see a technical reason here but this still doesn’t make it the best business decision in my opinion.

Minority Report would be if he conspired to show the phone to his daughter to be filmed and Apple terminated his employment at that point. Would you say that child endangerment is an example of Minority Report? Just because a child did not die does not mean that the culprit is not at fault. They still committed a crime.

It is the best business decision, or any decision for that matter. If Apple did not fire him, it is sending out a message that what he did is okay. The NDA exists for a reason.

 

[Ghost31]

She’s really sweet and the father must be a good man to have raised a child that loves, respects and appreciates him the way he does.

As for Apple, I am disappointed. Typical corporate behavior. Let’s put things in perspective. The phone was already announced. She didn’t reveal any secret information. The product her father helped develop for Tim and company will generate billions in revenue. To discard someone for a simple mistake is heartless and says a lot about the culture at Apple.

What harm has been done here? None... FaceID demo was far more damaging to Apple’s product and reputation, if you ask me. It sure played a role in me choosing the 8 Plus over the X.

So, either there is more to this story (something else lead to his dismissal) or Apple is overreacting and treating this person and his family harshly and unfairly.

So another one of those “he seems nice so he should be able to break the rules because I disagree with the rules”.

If you know the rules and break them, whatever happens is on you. I honestly can’t believe people are blaming apple for HIM breaking the rules and having to face the consequences. If you can just break an NDA without fear, why wouldn’t everyone? That would set a bad precedent. But all some people seem to care about is “awww he’s such a nice guy”. A nice guy that makes 6-7 figures and will find another job making the same easily. Stop the pity train

 

[iMi]

Apple is worth more than the GDP of many many countries...countries with armies.

Of course they take this stuff seriously. Of course the info they are handling is classified. Just because you don’t think it’s a big deal doesn’t mean Apple doesn’t. Or their shareholders.

Case in point, I worked at a retouching studio which was hired for an iPad ad campaign for the iPad 1.

We had to install fingerprint readers and deadbolt locks on every room where the images would be worked on. Hard drives containing the final images had to be hand couriered to the ad agency. We had to send a couple of retouchers to the photo studio during the shoot, and everyone st the studio had to leave their cell phone with a security guard. The NDA we signed were about 40 pages long.

And this was all for a campaign that was coming out 10 months after the iPad 1 had been released. There was no new hardware. No secret new features. Just some ads.

I also worked for a company that worked on rich media ads for Apple but they were not products specific, so we didn’t have any type of tight security like this.

I wasn’t involved with these projects directly but we all knew the work was being done. It wasn’t a big secret. I remember one day a bunch of developers were all excited because Steve Jobs apparently joined a conference call with us and the ad agency to voice his displeasure. He basically yelled at everyone. They all loved it.

 

[titrau]

So she trade to be popular in youtube
= that huge price

 

[naturalstar]

In their defense, this whole thing happened after the announcement. Which the hands on videos were already all over YouTube(All hands on are on Apple campus of course).
It looks like her dad had an iPhone X for a while, he didn’t shared with her or let her film it before the announcement. I believe it’s just an innocent mistake, which they did pay the price for it.
I’m more concern about the internet bullying that’s happening to their family now, his is between Apple and them, why are so many irrelevant people has so much anger towards the family.

Unfortunately, Dad had to know. You don’t work on these kinds of projects not knowing what’s allowed and what’s not. Hands-on videos are authorized to create marketing buzz. It’s a controlled activity. After that, you don’t see videos going out until close to launch unless again authorized press coverage or to create marketing buzz. He may have thought it wouldn’t matter for whatever reason, but he could not have known the consequences.

I do agree about the piling on by internet strangers. People tend to revel in the misfortunes of others. No need to bully the family directly. They didn’t hurt anyone, but themselves, sadly.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Someday, people could just put on some VR googles and violate the NDA all day long in that Virtual World and it is just like GTA 5 and nobody would get fired or sued. Some needs to make this a playable game. I would totally violate the NDA in that game and get 5 stars while doing it.

 

[C DM]

Contract was violated - employee was terminated. Plain and simple.

If you didn't pay your rent or mortgage, the landlord or bank would evict you based on the terms of your contract. This is exactly the same scenario.

To be fair, it might be an analogous type of scenario at best, but certainly not exactly the same.

 

[pat500000]

The fact that she said her father would take full responsibility....ugh it gets to me. Nevertheless, i feel bad for her dad though.

 

[saltd]

So she trade to be popular in youtube
= that huge price

Exactly-and this video of her explaining the situation is another attention grab. I don’t wish misfortune on anyone, but they walked right into this one...