Ex-Apple engineer admits 'expensive mistake' after leak lawsuit is dismissed
A former engineer who was sued by Apple for leaking details about Apple Vision Pro, the Journal app, and more may have been forced to issue a public apology after the case was dismissed.
Gavel in a courtroom.
Andrew Aude, once an iOS software engineer at Apple, was accused of repeatedly sharing internal company secrets with journalists. And now he's apologized for the leaks, perhaps being forced to do so by the terms of the settlement.
In a statement posted on X, he called his leaks a "profound and expensive mistake," saying they cost him his career and the professional relationships he spent years building.
I spent nearly eight years as a software engineer at Apple. During that time, I was given access to sensitive internal Apple information, including what were then unreleased products and features. But instead of keeping this information secret, I made the mistake of sharing this
-- Andy Aude (@andyaude1)
According to the lawsuit, he provided The Wall Street Journal with details about the Journal app before its release and sent thousands of encrypted messages to a journalist at The Information.
The lawsuit also claimed he shared confidential information about Apple Vision Pro and other upcoming products.
Apple's complaint described a pattern of behavior where Aude allegedly leaked information to damage products he disagreed with or simply to stir up chaos. One message he sent reportedly showed him eagerly anticipating the fallout from his leaks before Apple's corporate teams even had time to react.
The lawsuit also claimed Aude deleted messages and even wiped evidence from his iPhone during an interview with Apple investigators. He was fired in late 2023.
By settling, Apple secured an outcome that reinforced its stance against leaks without the risks or prolonged scrutiny of a public trial. Now, nearly a year later, Aude is admitting fault.
The settlement's terms remain undisclosed, but Aude's public statement suggests Apple may have required an admission of wrongdoing as part of the deal.
Apple's crackdown on leaks
Apple has a long history of aggressively going after leakers, both internally and externally. The company is notorious for its secrecy, keeping tight control over product details until official announcements.
Breaking the company's confidentiality agreements comes with steep consequences. While the lawsuit has been dismissed, Apple made its point -- it will go to great lengths to protect its secrets, and employees who break the rules risk losing their careers.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
That’s not an appropriate use of the word “mistake” that matches what you will find in any dictionary!
"An action or judgment that is misguided or wrong" from the OAD sounds like it fits.
I have nothing bad to say about the app — because I've never used it — but it's not app that seems to get any mention in my circles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_involved_in_the_Holocaust
LOL
Dude full on sold trade secrets for money.
Trump is the POTUS, like it or not. Tim Cook’s job does not include leading The Resistance with futile gestures of opposition.
Usually they get away with it but sometimes… they don’t and the consequences of loose lips can have very expensive, life-altering-for-the-worse effects.
I work with confidential corporate and medical information all the time; one of the silver linings of my massive trust issues is that I am never tempted to talk about it with others who have no need to know.