Apple sues YouTuber for leaking unreleased iPhone update details

Apple has launched a major lawsuit against popular YouTuber Jon Prosser and California man Michael Ramacciotti, claiming the pair stole and then leaked confidential information about the company’s latest iPhone software update – iOS 26.

The complaint, filed in US District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses Ramacciotti of using unauthorized access to an Apple employee’s phone to leak sensitive details of iOS 26. He reportedly sent it to Prosser, who ran with it on his YouTube channel Front Page Tech.

The leaked information included details on as-yet-unreleased features and designs for iOS 26, which Apple intends to release publicly in the fall of 2025, according to the court documents.

The company claims the leak caused “irreparable harm” by disclosing unfinished and secret product plans before they were ready. It is also seeking damages, but did not specify an amount.

Apple has emphasized that it places a high priority on confidentiality and protecting its trade secrets. The company typically did not comment publicly beyond what is stated in its official legal filings.

YouTuber denies wrongdoing

In a statement to Reuters, Jon Prosser, an online personality who has gained prominence by disseminating news and scoops related to tech, said the lawsuit is another attempt by a large organization to silence those who speak the Truth.

“I certainly did not plot to steal information, nor did I even know how it was originally obtained,” he said.

Prosser said he believed the information he received was accurate and that publishing it fell within the legal boundaries of journalism. He added that he was eager to have the opportunity to present his side of the case in court.

This far, neither Ramacciotti nor a representative from Front Page Tech has returned requests for comment.

The video, uploaded to Prosser’s channel for the first time in January 2025, is called iOS 26. Inside, he detailed features and settings that Apple had not yet released. The video had people talking in the tech community and ranting online about Apple’s internal monitors and how they keep a tighter lid on leaks.

Whistleblower exposes iPhone software breach

Apple said that it became aware of the leak in April 2025, after it was alerted by an anonymous whistleblower. According to court documents, the whistleblower told Apple that Ramacciotti had accessed the data by hiding behind a close friend’s work phone. That friend happened to be an Apple employee at the time.

The suit claims Prosser drove Ramacciotti, whom the vice principal supposedly “owed money,” to secure and relay the information. According to Apple, Ramacciotti is accused of numerous crimes and breaking company regulations. Falsehoods can lead to consequences; for Mike Prosser, that means a net gain. Prosser deliberately profited from the law-breaking, sharing secret information on his platforms to build an online audience and personal brand.

Apple claims that protecting its IP is essential to its innovation and market position. It said both defendants had acted “maliciously and unlawfully.” The company also argued in the lawsuit that its trade secrets would harm its competitiveness and confidence between employees and business partners if revealed to the public.

In 2021, Apple accused one of its former employees, Simon Lancaster, of leaking confidential company information to a reporter. In court documents, the company said Lancaster had abused his position and the trust in him to share sensitive trade secrets for his gain.

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