Apple Platform Litigation Consulting
Non-Testifying Technical Consulting Expert for U.S. Law Firms
I help U.S. law firms investigate and understand technical issues involving Apple platforms: iOS, mobile apps, app permissions, in-app browsers, third-party SDKs, APIs and data collection.
As a non-testifying consulting expert, I support counsel with early case assessment, focused technical investigations, discovery strategy, review of document productions, and clear written analysis. I translate complex platform behavior into practical findings that attorneys can use to evaluate claims and develop discovery.
I have supported multiple litigation matters led by U.S. law firms, all involving the Apple platform.
Why law firms work with me
15+ years of deep Apple platform engineering. I have been building, analyzing and shipping iOS software since 2011, including at Twitter and Google, with detailed knowledge of how iOS, its permission model, and its frameworks actually work.
I built core infrastructure of the iOS ecosystem. I created fastlane, the open source deployment toolchain used by hundreds of thousands of iOS and Android apps. fastlane was acquired by Twitter, and later by Google. Most large iOS apps you have on your phone have used fastlane.
My privacy and security research changed iOS itself. My published research on the iOS permission system has been validated by Apple’s own actions: Apple has updated the iOS operating system to have a new camera and microphone recording indicator, new photo permissions and a revamped iCloud authentication screen.
My research made headlines worldwide. My work InAppBrowser, showing what JavaScript code apps like TikTok and Instagram injected into websites opened inside their apps, was covered by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Axios, and others, reaching more than 25,000,000 impressions. You can find all of my publications on the privacy research page.
My iOS research reached regulators and U.S. courtrooms. My in-app browser findings were raised in a U.S. Senate hearing, where TikTok was questioned about the keystroke-collection capability my research uncovered. The same findings became the basis of multiple class actions and a federal MDL, and contributed to the EU Digital Markets Act work on in-app browsers. I also presented this research to UK lawmakers.
- Mitchell v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (N.D. Cal.) — class action based directly on my in-app browser findings
- Willis v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (N.D. Cal.) — class action based directly on my in-app browser findings
- In re TikTok, Inc. In-App Browser Privacy Litigation (MDL No. 2948-A, N.D. Ill.) — the court wrote that "the origins of this litigation lie in" my August 2022 publications
- Social Media's Impact on Homeland Security, S. Hrg. 117-681 (U.S. Senate) — TikTok questioned about the keystroke-collection capability my research uncovered
- Open Web Advocacy, DMA Interventions: In-App Browsers (EU Digital Markets Act)
Services for litigation teams
Early case assessment
Evaluating whether a proposed technical theory about Apple platforms, iOS or a mobile app is supported by how the technology actually works, and identifying weaknesses before they become expensive.
Technical investigation and platform analysis
Focused research into iOS internals, APIs, app architecture, permissions, entitlements, SDKs and data collection: what an app can do versus what it claims to do, including technical timelines and software-version analyses of how behavior changed across iOS releases.
Discovery strategy and production review
Formulating and prioritizing technically precise requests for production, including definitions designed to capture the right documents despite uncertain internal terminology, plus review of technical materials and existing productions to identify significant evidence and where counsel should dig deeper.
Written analysis and attorney briefings
Technical memoranda, investigation reports, and plain-language briefings that make engineering facts usable in legal strategy.
Support for testifying experts
Doing the technical groundwork, research, and discovery analysis that a separately retained testifying expert and the litigation team can build on.
Typical matter areas include consumer privacy and data collection, in-app tracking, App Store and platform disputes, class actions, and antitrust litigation involving mobile software.
How an engagement works
I work as a technical consultant for litigation, in the role of a non-testifying consulting expert. Engagements are confidential, and I am typically retained directly by counsel. Most matters start with a conflict check and a short call to understand the technical questions at issue, followed by a scoped investigation or ongoing support throughout the case. I am based in Vienna, Austria, and work regularly with U.S. teams and U.S. time zones.
Email me at contact@krausefx.com with a short description of the case and the parties involved for a conflict check.