"If, for example, I'm alone at home, I do not necessarily want people to know about it," says Hong Xin Jimmy Mei, an actuarial student who used to use FaceTime a few times a month with his friends, who also live in Montreal.
The FaceTime app allows you to make video calls. It is included in several Apple devices.
On Monday, netizens discovered that it was possible to call a user and hear or film him before he even answered the call.
The vulnerability would affect all Apple devices running the iOS 12.1 operating system or the most recent.
On social networks, the news snowballed Tuesday, causing amazement and mockery.
"Scandalous"
" It's scandalous. The appropriate tests should have been done by Apple! Exclaims Jimmy Lambert, the lawyer who laid the motion on the night of Monday to Tuesday. He expects thousands of people to be affected.
For example, professionals who must protect the privacy of their clients may have violated their code of ethics without knowing it because of this flaw, he says.
"Or someone could just be naked at home," not expecting to be seen at that time, he suggests.
An application for collective action was filed Tuesday at the courthouse in Montreal to represent all those allegedly affected by this breach in Canada, denouncing the "laxity" and "negligence" of the American giant.
More secure than others?
Apple was forced on Monday night to announce the temporary suspension of FaceTime's "group calls" feature, which is behind the bug, promising a "later in the week" fix.
Meanwhile, Apple's customers suffer losses because they lose a work tool, says M th Lambert.
Ironically, Apple has often prided itself on better protecting privacy than its Google or Facebook competitors.
"That's one of the things that made me pay more for Apple products. I expect higher quality, "says Mei.
"What worries me most is to think that there may be other problems like this with other applications. "
Before moving forward, the class action application must be authorized by a judge, but potential members may already register at the following address: lambertavocatinc.com/apply-collective-recourse .
