A protester claiming to be an Apple employee disrupted the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote, briefly interrupting software chief Craig Federighi during his opening remarks. The incident marks the latest in a series of protests targeting major tech conferences.The individual marched onto the stage, unzipped his jacket to reveal a keffiyeh, and held up what appeared to be an employee badge while shouting “I work at Apple.” His remarks were largely inaudible to the audience. Security personnel escorted him off the stage after approximately 30 seconds, while Federighi continued his presentation without pause.
Tech conferences increasingly targeted by activists
The Apple disruption follows similar protests at Microsoft’s Build conference last month, where employees interrupted CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote and another presentation with “Free Palestine” messages. The pattern suggests growing internal dissent within major tech companies over their business relationships and ethical responsibilities.Video footage of the Apple protest quickly went viral on social media, with users describing it as “one of the boldest WWDC disruptions yet.” The timing appeared deliberate, occurring just minutes into Federighi’s speech introducing new software features to thousands of developers and media attendees.Apple has not released an official statement regarding the incident. The disruption is likely to prompt a review of security protocols at the company’s flagship developer event, which typically maintains tight control over presentations and access.
