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Apple seeded disinformation about March 23 event to root out leakers, leaker says

A virtual Apple event is expected to take place at the Steve Jobs Theater

Last updated

Likely as part of a counter-intelligence program by Apple, top leakers were wrong about Apple having an event on March 23 — and this is a sign of trouble for their sources inside the company.

Apple is a secretive company that prides itself on the ability to surprise and delight its customers. The ability for leaks to escape to the media is in direct opposition to this, and it is increasingly obvious that Apple is on the defense.

Many reputable Apple leakers reported an Apple event would take place on March 23. Invites for an event usually arrive no later than a week prior, but March 16 sailed by with no indication of an event.

Leakers have mostly remained silent about the misstep — except for Jon Prosser. In his latest video, he claimed that Apple used a controlled leak to get the March 23 date to all of the leaker's sources.

There is a long history of companies, governments, and other entities using fake information to out a "mole" or leaker. By distributing fake details to a select number of employees, Apple is able to whittle down where leaks are coming from.

Prosser says that he has a separate source that has reported an April event since early February. He chose to ignore that source since every other source indicated March 23.

According to Prosser, the April event will be a pre-recorded video with details of multiple products being released. The "AirTags" and a refreshed 10.2-inch iPad are expected to be announced. There is a slim chance of "AirPods 3" or the next iPad Pro appearing at the event as well.

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28 Comments

ihatescreennames 19 Years · 1977 comments

I hope it’s true. I get tired of not being surprised at product unveiling events. 

Before someone chimes in with “you should stay off rumor sites”, I’ll mention that there are more than simply rumors on AI. I can come here for Apple news, read about new HomeKit products (that aren’t from Apple), etc, and still see headlines that could reveal something about an unannounced product.

mknelson 9 Years · 1148 comments

Apple should really go to town on this and leak all sorts of credible but not actually coming soon products.

There are already good examples vapour-like predictions of about to be released products that have yet to ship: Airtags, 14" MBP, new AppleTV. They've been in every rumour cycles for a year or more!

MaximusPrime 3 Years · 1 comment

I hope it’s true. I get tired of not being surprised at product unveiling events. 

Before someone chimes in with “you should stay off rumor sites”, I’ll mention that there are more than simply rumors on AI. I can come here for Apple news, read about new HomeKit products (that aren’t from Apple), etc, and still see headlines that could reveal something about an unannounced product.

Or you simply go to apple.com there you will find everything Apple without the rumors. Because here you will find rumors, true and false.

darkvader 15 Years · 1146 comments

I hope it’s true. I get tired of not being surprised at product unveiling events. 

Before someone chimes in with “you should stay off rumor sites”, I’ll mention that there are more than simply rumors on AI. I can come here for Apple news, read about new HomeKit products (that aren’t from Apple), etc, and still see headlines that could reveal something about an unannounced product.

If you don't want to know about unannounced products, you should stay off rumor sites. 

The rest of us WANT leaks, and want them earlier than we get them now.

So hopefully it's not true, and the March 23 event was simply canceled before it was announced.

Fred257 5 Years · 259 comments

Apple is such a perfectionist boring company.  The rumors of innovation are the only exciting thing about it.  Without it, Apple has no excitement for me, none!!