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Lawyer sues Apple, claims FaceTime bug “allowed” recording of deposition

Texas attorney: I didn't update my iPhone to enable "unsolicited eavesdropping."

A person uses an iPad for a FaceTime conversation, on January 29, 2019 in Rome.
Enlarge / A person uses an iPad for a FaceTime conversation, on January 29, 2019 in Rome.
VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images

A Houston attorney has sued Apple over the recently disclosed FaceTime bug, which can allow third parties to surreptitiously listen to FaceTime calls via an iPhone microphone.

In a lawsuit filed Monday evening in Harris County District Court, Larry Williams claimed the company was negligent when it allowed the microphone to be used in this way.

"Plaintiff was undergoing a private deposition with a client when this defective product breach allowed for the recording of a private deposition," he wrote.

"The Product was used for its intended purposes because Plaintiff updated their phone for the purpose of group Facetime calls but not unsolicited eavesdropping. Plaintiff suffered injuries."

Williams also alleged strict products liability and breach of express warranty, among other counts.

The case was first reported Tuesday by Courthouse News.

Apple is expected to release a fix to the bug later this week.

Channel Ars Technica