Ex-Apple Engineer Sues Over AT&T Data Hand-Off

In the summer of 2024, Apple Apple terminated corporate systems engineer Toby Bordman, citing poor performance. In January 2026, Bordman filed a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging the firing was retaliatory and unlawful.

According to the court filing, Bordman was tasked with assisting when AT&T AT&T support specialists hit roadblocks resolving complex cellular issues for iPhone iPhone and iPad iPad users. Routine requests allegedly involved matching device serial numbers to their International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers, sometimes in batches of up to 1,000 units. While Apple’s internal policy treats these identifiers as personal data requiring customer authorization—a rule enforced by other corporate teams—the representative assigned to AT&T reportedly did not ensure compliance. Bordman stated these details were transmitted via unsecured email.

After raising the practice with his manager, Meg Fisher, and consulting the legal department without receiving a written response, Bordman claims his manager told him to stop causing trouble. He subsequently began refusing AT&T's requests. In March 2026, Apple denied the allegations, asserting the engineer was let go for legitimate business reasons. A jury trial is scheduled for November 2027.

Wireless networks use IMEI numbers to distinguish physical devices from subscribers, which carriers and law enforcement can also apply to locate hardware. The upcoming trial will test whether internal data-privacy guidelines carry legal weight when employees object to lax sharing practices.

Source: habr