Apple Takes Legal Action Over iOS 26 Leaks Against This YouTuber: Heres What Happened

Apple has filed a lawsuit against well-known tech YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser, accusing him of being involved in the unauthorised leak of confidential iOS 26 features. The lawsuit, filed earlier this week, also names Michael Ramacciotti, a friend of an Apple employee, as a co-defendant. Also Read: Apple iPad Pro Launched In India With New M5 Chip, Ultra Retina XDR Display: Price, Specs

According to Apple, the chain of events began when Ramacciotti gained access to a development iPhone owned by Apple engineer Ethan Lipnik, Macrumors reported. The phone was reportedly running an early build of iOS 26. Apple claims that Prosser offered money or future opportunities to Ramacciotti in exchange for access to the device. Also Read: Apple Launches 14-inch MacBook Pro With M5 Chip And Up To 24-Hour Battery Life: Check Price And Availability

The lawsuit alleges that Ramacciotti tracked Lipnik’s location to find a time when he wasn’t home, accessed the device using Lipnik’s passcode, and FaceTimed Prosser to show him the unreleased software. Prosser then allegedly recorded the call and used the footage to create renders and videos that were published on his YouTube channels. Also Read: WhatsApp’s New iPhone Update Brings A Liquid Glass Design, But Also A Strange Mute Bug

Between January and April 2025, Prosser released a series of videos showcasing what he said were re-creations of iOS 19—later confirmed as iOS 26. These included early looks at a redesigned Camera app, a new Messages interface, and the now-official Liquid Glass design language that Apple revealed at WWDC in June.

While some visual details were slightly off, many of the elements matched closely enough to raise concerns within Apple, eventually leading to the internal investigation and lawsuit.

Apple’s Response and Concerns

Apple says that the development iPhone contained not only iOS 26 features but also unannounced internal designs and future plans, which they fear may still be in circulation. The company is seeking damages and a court injunction to prevent any further disclosures.

Meanwhile, Apple has terminated Lipnik’s employment, citing failure to protect company assets and not reporting the breach when he found out.

For the record: I certainly did not “plot” to access anyone’s phone and was unaware of the situation playing out.

— jon prosser (@jon_prosser) July 18, 2025

Jon Prosser Responds

In a post on X, Jon Prosser denied the claims, stating, “I did not plot to access anyone’s phone” and that he was unaware of how the information was obtained. He has said he looks forward to sharing his side of the story in court.

This case could set a new tone for how tech leaks are handled, especially when internal tools and unreleased software are involved.