Issue (WIWE) status: Submitted, Unpublished

Weak Signal's progress: Advanced

This Weak Signal came from: 
European Commission Framework Programme for RTD

The theme/scheme related to this Weak Signal: 
Theme 8 - Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities

The sub-theme that best relates to this Weak Signal: 
Blue Sky Research on emerging issues and other research economies

When did the Weak Signal manifest ? 
2005-now

Weak Signal's description: 

n Summer 2009, an employee of one of Apple’s manufacturer committed suicide after loosing a prototype of a next generation iPhone, There are rumours that he was maltreated and his house was searched illegally.
Apple, commonly seen as one of the most innovative brands, treats its upcoming products like a state secret. Apple thereby contributes to the hype created by its uncountable communities of followers, e.g. websites, which offer live-tickers during Apple Keynotes (conferences where Apple launches new products) have to shut down their normal sites and use all available server-power to withstand the run of followers.