Apple has had 12 employees arrested in the course of last year for leaking internal information about future software plans, according to a leaked note (ironically) today, discovered by Bloomberg .
The company said in an energetic memo that it had trapped 29 people who leaked information last year, and 12 of them were arrested. Those 29 people include employees, contractors and partners in the supply chain. "Leakers do not simply lose their jobs at Apple," the memo says, "In some cases, they face jail terms and massive fines for network intrusion and theft of trade secrets, both classified as federal crimes."
The note attempts to curb internal leaks by warning employees that journalists and the media may try to make friends with them, but the cost of a leak means that reporters gain more web traffic while that employees could lose their jobs. "While it may seem flattering to be approached, it is important to remember that they are playing you," he said, adding that once a person loses their job because of a flight, finding a job elsewhere could be difficult. .
Earlier this year, Apple surprised an employee who leaked details of an internal meeting in which Apple's vice president of engineering, Craig Federighi, informed employees that certain software features on iOS would be delayed. Last year, another employee was fired for leaking details about the iPhone X, iPad Pro and AirPods to 9to5Mac .