Tim Cook Addresses Privacy, Government Requests in New NPR Interview

“We also refuse to add a backdoor into any of our products because that undermines the protections we’ve built in”. And so instead of us taking that data into Apple, we’ve kept data on the phone and it’s encrypted by you.

Apple has updated the privacy policy and security details of its new iOS 9, outlining how the company will use the data gathered from users.

Regarding the NSA, Cook noted how he believes everyone, including the government is beginning to realize that encryption of data is a must. But the reality is that if you have an open door in your software for the good guys, the bad guys get in there, too. That event, widely attributed to Chinese cyberattackers, saw potentially sensitive information about upwards of 9 million current and former U.S. government employees stolen. He believes that everyone, including government agencies, are coming around to the idea that a “back door” is a nonstarter and that encryption “is a must in today’s world”. You control it.The Apple CEO goes on to address his thoughts on a “back door” that allows government agencies access to user data in an effort to pursue national security. “We are going to do everything that we can to help maintain that trust”, Cook said during an NPR interview.

When Cook was told by the NPR host that a few critics interpreted Apple’s focus on privacy as a “not-so-subtle” dig at Google, he gave a sharp exhalation which sounded like a stifled laugh.

Our view on this comes from a values point of view, not from a commercial interest point of view. And that our customers are not our products.

“His willingness to bravely and directly speak his truth has not only given hope to countless people around the world, it has saved lives”, Griffin said of Cook. That’s just not the business that we are in. And so we think that our customers want us to help them keep their data safe…. So let me be clear: “I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me”.

For example, Cook said Apple does know what apps you purchase so that it can make recommendations for other apps, but it does not read your emails to pick up keywords so that it can use that information to market other items. “Many customers want us to recommend an app”.

Apple has also provided details of how it plans to use personal information in the News app as the content will be supported by ads.