A man whose iPhone was stolen is suing Apple and demanding $5 million in damages from the big tech company.
According to Michael Matthews, the reason behind the lawsuit is his belief that Apple’s security mechanisms are flawed and can be turned against the user—which is what he claims happened to him.
In a report by The Washington Post, Matthews said his iPhone was stolen by a pickpocket in a city in Arizona, USA.
In the lawsuit, he details how he lost photos, music, work-related research, and tax documents that were stored on his phone.
Matthews’ main complaint concerns a feature called Apple’s “Recovery Key,” a 28-digit code designed to protect users by allowing them to reset their password and regain access to their account.
However, he claims the tool did not work and is actually being used against users whose devices have been stolen. In his lawsuit, he is requesting access to his 2TB of data and $5 million in compensation.
“Although Matthews can provide substantial and unquestionable evidence that the accounts and data in his Apple accounts are his, Apple refuses to reset the Recovery Key or allow Matthews access to his accounts and data.”
“By doing so, Apple perpetuates and facilitates criminal activity,” the lawsuit states. While Apple does not comment on ongoing legal cases, a statement obtained by The Washington Post said the company sympathized with the situation and stated that it takes “all attacks on our users very seriously.”
Photo and video: Unsplash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
