Apple's practice of blending personal and work iCloud accounts has left some former employees with lingering access to confidential documents after their departure, as reported by The Information. The outlet interviewed more than half a dozen ex-employees who unknowingly retained access to sensitive content on their personal devices.
Company files keep syncing to personal devices after resignation
Many former employees stated that Apple files shared during their tenure, including planning documents for product launch events, continued to sync via iCloud even after leaving the company. In some cases, they even received notifications about updates to the documents. Some former workers were afraid to delete the files for fear of attracting Apple's attention.
Merging personal and business accounts creates the issue
Apple encourages employees to use their personal Apple ID with their work iCloud account, offering a 2TB plan. Since only one primary account can be signed in at a time, many choose to use their existing account to avoid carrying two iPhones. This practice mixes work files with personal content, making it difficult to completely revoke access.
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Managed folder does not cover all internal documents
Apple has a managed folder for workplace files whose access is revoked when an employee leaves. However, some internal documents are not automatically saved there, and shared files end up mixed with personal content. Additionally, employees may retain access to iMessage chats and files shared via the Messages app.
The Apple-OpenAI lawsuit and the Chang Liu case
Lingering access to Apple systems is central to Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI. Apple alleged that former employee Chang Liu breached its systems using a rare, previously unknown authentication bug to download files while working at OpenAI. Apple told The Information that the lawsuit is unrelated to any files left on iCloud and that it does not pursue legal claims against former employees who accidentally have Apple documents in their personal iCloud accounts.
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Rivos' accusations and lawsuits against ex-employees
In a now-settled legal dispute, chip company Rivos claimed that Apple intentionally lets former employees retain access to files as part of a planned effort to create a pretext to sue employees and their new employers for stealing Apple material. In one case, an employee was targeted for keeping work files in his personal iCloud account.
Gerard Williams and Di Liu lawsuits
Gerard Williams, a former employee sued by Apple, countersued accusing the company of intimidation tactics. The court rejected his claim, and Apple dropped the case in 2023. In 2025, Apple also accused former Vision Pro engineer Di Liu of downloading thousands of corporate documents to his personal cloud storage before leaving for Snap.
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The contradiction with privacy and security
The Information's investigation does not outright suggest Apple is purposefully allowing former employees to retain access, but it points out that Apple's use of iCloud for file sharing and its incomplete wiping of employee accounts are at odds with its heavy focus on privacy and security. This scenario raises questions about internal cybersecurity management, especially for a company that boasts about protecting user data.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/03/apple-icloud-sharing-ex-employees
