Leaked document indicates Apple is cracking down on leaks

[Cal Jeffrey]

Rumor mill: Apple has long been known for its secrecy when it comes to unreleased products. Despite its efforts, leaks still get out regularly, particularly from its supply chain. Apple is reportedly looking to change that by updating the security guidelines for its manufacturing partners. Ironically, the news comes from an internal document leaked to The Information.

Under the updated guidelines, manufacturing facilities must conduct criminal background checks on assembly line workers that have access to unreleased Apple products. Previously background checks only applied to certain employees. Those with criminal histories are not allowed into any area of the facility where unreleased devices are being developed or assembled.

Apple is also upgrading its computer systems to track how long components remain at workstations. If the part is in one place for too long, the computer will issue security alerts. Additionally, guards posted at various checkpoints will be required to keep detailed records regarding the locations and movements of any employees moving "sensitive" components from one area to another.

Factory workers must pass biometric screening but visiting Apple employees do not (stock photo for illustration).

The new rules extend outside of the factory floor as well. For example, any visitors to the facility must present a government-issued ID for vetting. External surveillance camera coverage must now be capable of capturing all four sides of transport vehicles. Management must also keep any video showing the destruction of prototypes or faulty components for at least 180 days.

One of the stranger and perhaps more controversial rules is that plants can no longer collect biometric information from any Apple employees visiting the facility. However, the company still requires fingerprints and facial scans of plant personnel. Not only does this create a double standard in the work environment, but it also doesn't make that much sense from a security standpoint.

If anything, factory workers who are in the facility daily and are recognized by management and coworkers are much less threat than some random Apple employee coming in for the first time. ID badges can be faked, and biometric screening is a good last line of defense against physical penetration.

As with all leaks, treat this one as a rumor. Apple has not confirmed the policy changes and considering the nature, it likely never will, even if true.

Image credit: Conveyor by Novikov Aleksey, ID Check by Helloabc

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/89044-leaked-document-indicates-apple-cracking-down-leaks.html

 

[punctualturn]

But not on using slave labor...

 

[envirovore]

Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked, have been sacked.

 

[Austinturner]

Maybe if you employed people and paid them good wages and got them involved in the mission of the company they wouldn’t leak information. Maybe outsourcing all your precious product prototyping to people paid little money, who you spy on unreasonably and who could be fired at any time stops them caring about your product and causes them to leak designs for money...

 

[QuantumPhysics]

But not on using slave labor...

“Slave labor” is a lie.

If you don’t wanna work there you don’t have to work there.

You can quit your job and you can go find something else to do that pays you more.

Unfortunately most of the people who make these claims about Apple using “slave labor” have never been to China and have never understood the actual market there.

I’ve lived in China. I understand the market there.

I’m fairly certain that most of these young women would rather be on an Apple assembly line than the alternative.

 

[duckofdeath]

“Slave labor” is a lie.

If you don’t wanna work there you don’t have to work there.

You can quit your job and you can go find something else to do that pays you more.

Unfortunately most of the people who make these claims about Apple using “slave labor” have never been to China and have never understood the actual market there.

I’ve lived in China. I understand the market there.

I’m fairly certain that most of these young women would rather be on an Apple assembly line than the alternative.

Yeah, they love it so much. They even have fancy trampolines installed around their buildings for happy-go-fun times! No other country cares that much about their people's happiness!

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Yeah, they love it so much. They even have fancy trampolines installed around their buildings for happy-go-fun times! No other country cares that much about their people's happiness!

OH? So people never commited suicide - at work - anywhere else in the world - in history - because of mental illness?

Here's a question, that I can't properly word the way I want to due to censorship:

Why aren't the people showing up to work and working committing suicide?

They seem to be doing fine!.

That chappy in the photo there seems enthusiastic.

 

[Austinturner]

“Slave labor” is a lie.

If you don’t wanna work there you don’t have to work there.

You can quit your job and you can go find something else to do that pays you more.

Unfortunately most of the people who make these claims about Apple using “slave labor” have never been to China and have never understood the actual market there.

I’ve lived in China. I understand the market there.

I’m fairly certain that most of these young women would rather be on an Apple assembly line than the alternative.

They probably are referring to the researched and reported case of approximately 80,000 Uyghur forcibly transferred from Xinjiang to other areas of the country to work in factories that play some role in the supply chains of many well known western companies including Apple.

The conditions of the re-education program, transfer of these people and the way they are engaged in work are reported to indicate forced labour.

This doesn’t mean that all factory workers are forced, it doesn’t mean apple was engaging these people or aware of the arrangements.

If you want to claim that Uyghur people are not being held in detention based on their race and religion, are not being forced to work, are not being transferred to other provinces forcibly...you need to bring some evidence to refute that.

 

[kapital98]

“Slave labor” is a lie.

If you don’t wanna work there you don’t have to work there.

You can quit your job and you can go find something else to do that pays you more.

Unfortunately most of the people who make these claims about Apple using “slave labor” have never been to China and have never understood the actual market there.

I’ve lived in China. I understand the market there.

I’m fairly certain that most of these young women would rather be on an Apple assembly line than the alternative.

A detailed look 'on-the-ground' is "Factory Girls" by Leslie Chang. She observed people directly in their factories and over the course of 2 years in Dongguan.

For the most part, they are happy about the opportunity factory work presents. The work is often brutal but it's usually better than the alternative of staying in a poor village or town.

This doesn't mean there shouldn't be better regulations, less corruption, etc. It just means that the view of 'slave labor' tends to be from people who view low-income countries through their own perspective.

Dui ma? Ni zenme renwei?

 

[Peter Farkas]

“Slave labor” is a lie.

If you don’t wanna work there you don’t have to work there.

You can quit your job and you can go find something else to do that pays you more.

Unfortunately most of the people who make these claims about Apple using “slave labor” have never been to China and have never understood the actual market there.

I’ve lived in China. I understand the market there.

I’m fairly certain that most of these young women would rather be on an Apple assembly line than the alternative.

this time I agree with you. It is not mandatory to work there (even if they don't have a lot of options). The labor laws of China are to be blamed imo. They should not allow such exploitation of the workforce. I am sure if the Party decided to protect the Chinese workers it would be better for the individual but this would also mean that China would lose some of its competitive edge (less protected worker is cheaper) over other countries.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

That chappy in the photo there seems enthusiastic.

That chappy is a model. I used a stock photo for illustrative purposes. I apologize for any confusion and added a note to the caption to abate any further misunderstanding.

 

[duckofdeath]

OH? So people never commited suicide - at work - anywhere else in the world - in history - because of mental illness?

Here's a question, that I can't properly word the way I want to due to censorship:

Why aren't the people showing up to work and working committing suicide?

They seem to be doing fine!.

That chappy in the photo there seems enthusiastic.

No western country has had an epidemic of suicides because living wasn't a financially viable option. The gap between prosperity and outright slavery is the thing that drives china's economy. Funded by amoral corporations like Apple.