spokesperson

A spokesperson for Endeavor declined to comment at the time.

On Monday, a government spokesperson described the move as a "one-off, due to the exceptional nature of these cases and in the interests of their welfare".

International rights groups and the United Nations had also expressed concern, with a spokesperson for the UN chief Antonio Guterres saying that "journalists should not be jailed for what they write, tweet, and say".

The Australian government made repeated representations to the last government and a spokesperson said it would continue to raise it at "appropriate opportunities".

In a statement to the Verge, Apple spokesperson Josh Rosenstock disputed the claims in the lawsuit.