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Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'Privacy is a Fundamental Human Right'

Monday June 4, 2018 7:45 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple CEO Tim Cook this evening sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN's Laurie Segall, where he discussed everything from his iPhone usage habits to the importance of privacy.

On the subject of device usage, Cook says that when he started using the new Screen Time feature built into iOS 12, he found he was spending too much time on the iPhone. "I found I was spending a lot more time than I should," he said. "I thought I was fairly disciplined about this. And I was wrong."


Cook said that Apple is aiming to provide the tools to consumers to let them make their own decisions about device usage, and what's considered too much will vary from person to person. He said that while Apple wants customers to be "incredibly satisfied and empowered," it's not the goal to get customers to spend all of their time on iOS devices.
I think the power is now shifted to the user and that has been What Apple has always been about - giving the power from the institution to the user. I am hopeful great things are going to happen from this.
Cook reiterated his stance on privacy, and called it a "fundamental human right," as he has done in the past. He said it's "not healthy" to point a finger at companies like Facebook, and instead, we should be focusing on making the web an "unbelievable place."
To me, and we feel this very deeply, we think privacy is a fundamental human right. So that is the angle that we look at it. Privacy from an American point of view is one of these key civil liberties that define what it is to be American.
Cook said customers can trust Apple to be "on their side." "We're the trusted adviser and company here," he said, explaining that people are not fully aware of how their data is being used and who has access to it. "I think this needs to be addressed."

The interviewer asked Cook whether or not he was concerned about machines taking over the world, and he said it's not something that he worries about. Instead, he is concerned about people becoming more machine-like.
I don't subscribe to machines the taking over the world. And I don't worry about that. I worry much more about people thinking like machines then machines thinking like people. I mean forgetting the humanity in things. Forgetting that all of our products should be infused with humanity. Forgetting that we have a broader obligation to society.
Cook said he doesn't consider himself to be political, and suggested that he would not run for political office.
I'm not political. I'm not sure I would really do well in that environment. I think that I can make the greatest contribution doing what I'm doing. [...] I love getting things done and I don't love the political machine in the background. I love Apple, it is the privilege of a lifetime to be leading this company at this time.
He also said that he believes Steve Jobs would support Apple's current trajectory when asked how Jobs would feel "about this moment in time."
In terms of the broader issue of humanity, that was his philosophy. That is the DNA of this company. Apple should always be trying to change the world, and change means make it better. That is the thing that we get up in the morning and focus on doing. And I don't see that changing. That is the north star that keeps us going.
Several snippets of Cook's full interview, which cover topics like DACA, immigration, tariffs, and more, are available over on CNN and are well worth checking out for those who want to see everything Cook had to say this evening.

Cook also did a separate interview with NPR, which covered topics like privacy, rumors that Apple had access to Facebook users' personal information, the new Screen Time feature, and the Trump administration.

Tag: Tim Cook
[ 132 comments ]

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macduke
18 months ago
I like Tim Cook both as a CEO and person and I don’t care what anyone at MacRumors has to say about it. He’s not perfect but has good principles and is smarter than most anyone here.
Rating: 34 Votes
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i75.bjc
18 months ago
"I'm not political.", said Tim Cook.
How can this be since this TC is the most political CEO that Apple has ever had. He sticks his nose into all the "important" political issues.
I miss Steve Jobs.
Rating: 29 Votes
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trifid
18 months ago
Give credit where credit is due, thank you for defending privacy, the new Safari features prove it's not just words. Thank you Tim.
Rating: 23 Votes
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Kaibelf
18 months ago

Perhaps, but getting paid $1B/year+ to do it while preaching about protecting your users' privacy is the height of hypocrisy.


Something tells me you don’t know what hypocrisy means.
Rating: 13 Votes
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lu0s3r322
18 months ago
I don't see Tim Cook as a political person. Maybe relative to Jobs but I'd rather have Cook's advocacy than Jobs'. Things that he's spoken out about are largely about values important to Apple and things that I think most people agree about. Climate change, DACA, privacy, gay rights, etc. I'd rather have someone of his importance defending these important issues than ignoring them. I agree that he would not do well in the political arena though, I think that's more of what he's saying.
Rating: 13 Votes
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goobot
18 months ago

Says the guy who negotiated a secret deal to have Google pay Apple over $1B per year to make Google the default search engine on Safari on iOS. Apple may not be invading our privacy but they sure don't mind being enriched by letting other companies do it for them.

Let’s be realistic tho. 99% of people probably would make google their default anyway and it’s not like you can’t change it.
Rating: 13 Votes
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pat500000
18 months ago
You’re not political? His whole statement is invalid.
Rating: 12 Votes
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BootsWalking
18 months ago
Says the guy who negotiated a secret deal to have Google pay Apple over $1B per year to make Google the default search engine on Safari on iOS. Apple may not be invading our privacy but they sure don't mind being enriched by letting other companies do it for them.
Rating: 9 Votes
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apolloa
18 months ago
I think the fact Cook has used the Apple name and brand to celebrate homosexuality since he became CEO is about as political as you can get! He’s such an utter two faced hypocrite on this topic. Perhaps he should also stop funding political campaigns too.
[doublepost=1528177444][/doublepost]

If Apple is so keen on privacy. Can someone explain why Apple made thus deal with Facebook? Hmm?

https://www.google.nl/amp/amp.timeinc.net/fortune/2018/06/04/facebook-friends-data-apple-mobile-manufacturers


Yes I also read that yesterday, however as it’s not been reported at all on this website, not surprising as it’s too negative, then it has also been debunked by Cook in the same interview:

http://9to5mac.com/2018/06/04/tim-cook-refutes-data-sharing-with-facebook/ ('https://9to5mac.com/2018/06/04/tim-cook-refutes-data-sharing-with-facebook/')

Take it as you will, just remember they also never told millions of people they deliberately throttled their iPhones performance, and apparently Cooks Apple isn’t political either...
Rating: 9 Votes
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ThisIsNotMe
18 months ago
I am not political.
Launched homosexual pride watch bands/faces.
:rolleyes:
Rating: 8 Votes

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