Insiders Sell Off $7M In Apple User Data

Apple has talked a big game about digital security in the past. However, new reports (via the Hong Kong Free Press) that Chinese law enforcement agencies have arrested an underground network of individuals involved with the company’s supply chain for selling off user data seem to have blindsided the company.

The individuals involved – who are understood to be not directly associated with Apple but with several of the company’s suppliers and outsourcing vendors – are said to have had access to names, phone numbers, Apple IDs and other information stored on Apple’s internal servers.

They then went on to sell that data on the black market. It’s been estimated the US$7.36 million worth of data had been sold prior to the arrests being made and the operation shut down.

It is unknown whether or not the data involved pertained to all Apple customers, or just those in China.

A statement from the state police agency involved said that twenty-two people had been detained on suspicion of infringing individuals’ privacy and illegally obtaining their digital personal information.

Apple has yet to comment