Apple boss delivers strongest attack yet on Facebook and Google over privacy

Web rivals' business models undermine users' privacy, says Tim Cook, who also warns governments on pursuing 'dangerous' encryption policies

Apple chief executive Tim Cook has delivered his sharpest attack yet on rivals Google and Facebook, with a speech criticising their advertising-supported business models for their disregard for users' privacy.

Cook also used his speech to the EPIC Champions of Freedom event in Washington to fire a broadside at governments pushing for backdoors to encryption systems used by Apple and other technology companies on national-security grounds, describing the prospect as "incredibly dangerous".

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