This tech giant has been accused of silencing employees and spying on their personal devices

In a complaint filed in California state court on Sunday, technology giant Apple has been accused of illegally monitoring its employees’ personal devices and iCloud accounts, in addition to prohibiting them from discussing their salaries and working conditions.

Amar Bhakta, part of the company’s digital advertising section, has filed the complaint under a unique California regulation that lets employees sue their employers on behalf of the state and keep 35% of any penalties that are recovered.

It has been reported that Apple requires employees to install a tool on personal devices that they use for their professional tasks, letting the company access their email, health and smart home data, photo libraries and other personal details.

The complaint also alleges that Apple imposes confidentiality policies to prohibit employees from discussing working conditions. But a spokesperson for the company noted in a statement that the legal complaint lacks merit.