Apple CEO Tim Cook Writes Letter to U.S. Senate Supporting Strong Privacy Legislation

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook today wrote a letter to the U.S. Senate advocating for strong privacy legislation at the federal level. The letter appears to be in response to a proposed bipartisan bill titled the "American Data Privacy and Protection Act" that would outline the types of data companies can collect from individuals and how they can use it.

The letter, obtained by MacRumors, is addressed to Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

In the letter, Cook said Apple continues to support efforts at the federal level to establish strong privacy protections for consumers. Cook added that Apple is encouraged by the draft proposals that Senate leaders have produced and reiterated Apple's belief that privacy is a fundamental human right. Cook said that while Apple fights to protect user privacy, "only Congress can provide strong privacy protections for all Americans."

The full text of the letter reads as follows:

Dear Chairs Cantwell and Pallone and Ranking Members Wicker and McMorris Rodgers:

Thank you for your ongoing work on privacy legislation. Apple continues to support efforts at the federal level to establish strong privacy protections for consumers, and we are encouraged by the draft proposals your offices have produced.

We recognize that there are outstanding issues to be resolved, but the areas of agreement appear to far outweigh the differences. Your drafts would provide substantial protections for consumers, and we write to offer our strong support towards achieving this shared goal. With your work, coupled with President Biden's call to better protect children’s privacy, it appears Americans are closer than ever to obtaining meaningful privacy protections.

At Apple, we believe privacy is a fundamental human right. It is why we have consistently advocated for comprehensive privacy legislation and contributed to the process whenever possible. It is also why we've always built products and features that protect users and their information by default. We do this by minimizing the data we collect, processing as much data as possible on a user's device, giving users transparency as to what data is collected and control as to how it is used, and building robust systems to protect user data across all our products and services.

While Apple will continue to innovate and develop new ways to protect user data, only Congress can provide strong privacy protections for all Americans. The continued absence of this important legislation will unfortunately perpetuate a patchwork approach to privacy rights that leaves too many without the rigorous standards we hope to see as a result of your hard work.

We strongly urge you to advance comprehensive privacy legislation as soon as possible, and we stand ready to assist in this process in the days ahead.

Sincerely,
Tim Cook
CEO, Apple

Last month, Apple shared a new ad highlighting iPhone privacy features like App Tracking Transparency and Mail Privacy Protection that are designed to give users more transparency and control when it comes to their personal data being collected.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook Writes Letter to U.S. Senate Supporting Strong Privacy Legislation

 

[Naraxus]

Except where iOS is concerned.

Then it's "Here's a key to the backdoor."

 

[TheOldChevy]

I support this action. Privacy is important. Very important.

 

[Realityck]

I like the fact that Apple prioritizes privacy and points this out to the federal level. Too many companies out there that just think of your online activity as a way to line their pocketbooks.

 

[antiprotest]

Except where iOS is concerned.

Then it's "Here's a key to the backdoor."

C-SCAM is a big front door plastered with righteous intentions and virtuous slogans.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I stand behind this.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1527067617671847937

 

[Naraxus]

I stand behind this.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1527067617671847937

Too bad Tim Cook & Apple don't

 

[nvmls]

Double face Timmey at work, force C-SAM into consumers then write a pretty PR letter.

 

[_Spinn_]

I hope we actually get good privacy legislation...though I'm guessing whatever we do get will be useless

 

[mcfrazieriv]

I like this. Go Tim!

Side note, anyone see Jurassic World 3 and think Tim Cook had a cameo? Asking for a friend…

 

[scheinderrob]

im glad at least apple is good on privacy.

still can't wait for the EU to bring the app store hammer down in addition to the usb-c hammer.

 

[mzeb]

Double face Timmey at work, force C-SAM into consumers then write a pretty PR letter.

But they didn't. C-SAM was backed out and while it is still technically an active project the fact that we haven't heard anything on it is kinda telling.

 

[antiprotest]

Except for listening to your dictation and Siri requests, wanting to C-SCAM all your photos, not really encrypting your data so that it can be social engineered into releasing your data to fake cops with fake warrants, and a whole bunch of other stuff, Apple is the best on privacy. It certainly talks the loudest about it.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Definitely time for some legislation…

..not sure it’ll be about “Privacy” however

 

[Karma*Police]

Is this the same guy who will gladly hand over customer data to government officials in countries like Russia and China? Stop with the virtue signaling already. The beginning of this year’s WWDC is a another example. You’re embarrassing yourself with all the hypocrisy, Tim. Focus on creating the best products. Period.

 

[videosoul]

Except for listening to your dictation and Siri requests

Isn't most of this done on-device now, and when it is done online they are completely transparent about when it's being done and how it's being used. They're not doing it secretly without full disclosure. Are they?

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

When Tim gets angry, ties his knot tighter

 

[mzeb]

Except where iOS is concerned.

Then it's "Here's a key to the backdoor."

Eh, sorta kinda. There's some data they can give up, like the metadata around your iMessages and stuff but there's a lot they can't. Like, you compare what the E2E encryption in iMessage is vs. what FB Messenger or Instagram is and it is night and day. FB can and does give up way more information. It's all relative.

iOS is FIPS capable but you have to install the modules separately so the potential government back door into strong encryption (not that this has been proven but...) doesn't exist by default. Most large countries have their own modules like these.

You can take the stance that any company that provides information to the government under any circumstance is doing wrong but if you look at it in shades of grey Apple is doing better than most.

 

[mashdots]

But they didn't. C-SAM was backed out and while it is still technically an active project the fact that we haven't heard anything on it is kinda telling.

Isn't most of this done on-device now, and when it is done online they are completely transparent about when it's being done and how it's being used. They're not doing it secretly without full disclosure. Are they?

Just putting these two things together. Friendly reminder that Apple hasn't shipped the CSAM tracking and they've been transparent about what it does.

 

[mzeb]

Except for listening to your dictation and Siri requests, wanting to C-SCAM all your photos, not really encrypting your data so that it can be social engineered into releasing your data to fake cops with fake warrants, and a whole bunch of other stuff, Apple is the best on privacy. It certainly talks the loudest about it.

Curious about what you mean by "not really encrypting all your data?"

The iCloud security model is pretty sound. A lot of meta data around your stuff is visible to Apple (like who you send messages to and when you do it) but your content data rarely is. There is a reason Apple can't retrieve most of the stuff from your account if you can't log into it.

"Not really encrypting all your data" feels nebulous and non-specific. Exactly how bad is it?

 

[Sasparilla]

Glad Mr. Cook did this, hope something could come of it, doubt anything will.

Thinking back to early into 2017 when the U.S. House / Senate / President rammed through and signed a law allowing ISP's to monitor and sell users internet information coming in on their connection - to prevent a regulation giving users privacy via their ISP connections from taking effect. One of the first things done at the time.

As long as there is money to be made exploiting citizens user information - one of the parties in the U.S. will back the exploiters to the hilt and taking the lobbying money, unapologetically, and the other party will listen a bit while taking the lobbying money just the same.

 

[sw1tcher]

I stand behind this.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1527067617671847937

"Privacy is a fundamental right and we build it into all our products and services at Apple. You should be in control of your data — not the highest bidder."

Is this the same Tim Cook who's running Apple and has taken billions from Google to be the default search engine because Google was the highest bidder? 🤣

 

[Mega ST]

Even if well intended a general search for child porn is no reason to violate my privacy or any user's on his device. This will be a good example to see how serious Apple finally is about privacy.

 

[catportal]

*Exceptions apply, we won't E2E encrypt icloud

 

[tgwaste]

Tim you do everything in your power to jail us to your eco system and strip out every ounce of information you can about us. Shut the h3ll up.