Complaints alleged that Apple mistreated customers of Asian descent, questioning their English skills, demanding to see their passports and denying them from buying iPads. Apple is apparently worried about people smuggling unauthorized iPads into China:
Apple's press office didn't immediately respond to inquiries by telephone or email, but a person who had been informed of Apple's policy said the company -- concerned that customers were purchasing multiple iPads for sale abroad -- had briefly instituted a questionnaire for use in the course of iPad sales, aimed at blocking those illegal exports.The investigation, conducted by the Attorney General office's Civil Rights Bureau, has reportedly focused on flagship stores in Soho and on 14th Street in Manhattan. More here Cuomo looks into iPad sales over discrimination claim. I guess Apple is extremely terrified of Chinese people too.
The source said the policy is no longer in place, and Bamberger signaled that the investigation appears likely to be resolved routinely.