Story 2015-10-08 PTA6 Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'Privacy Is A Fundamental Human Right'

Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'Privacy Is A Fundamental Human Right'

by
Anonymous Coward
in security on (#PTA6)
On government requests for customer text messages:

"The government comes to us from time to time, and if they ask in a way that is correct, and has been through the courts as is required, then to the degree that we have information, we give that information.

However, we design our products in such a way that privacy is designed into the product. And security is designed in. And so if you think about it ... some of our most personal data is on the phone: our financial data, our health information, our conversations with our friends and family and co-workers. And so instead of us taking that data into Apple, we've kept data on the phone and it's encrypted by you. You control it."

On Apple's recent emphasis on customer privacy:

:We do think that people want us to help them keep their lives private. We see that privacy is a fundamental human right that people have. We are going to do everything that we can to help maintain that trust. ...

Our view on this comes from a values point of view, not from a commercial interest point of view. Our values are that we do think that people have a right to privacy. And that our customers are not our products. We don't collect a lot of your data and understand every detail about your life. That's just not the business that we are in."

http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/10/01/445026470/apple-ceo-tim-cook-privacy-is-a-fundamental-human-right
Reply 8 comments

I don't get it (Score: 0)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-10-08 05:47 (#PTH6)

Is he a sociopath or not? Is this just good for business, or does he genuinely feel this way?

Re: I don't get it (Score: 3, Insightful)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-10-08 06:14 (#PTJP)

I'd assume it's just "good for business"... Apple put-in encryption features AFTER the public outcry of the Snowden/NSA domestic spying revelations (Apple was well-aware, but there was no public outrage yet) and privacy-centric and/or non-US businesses were gaining customers at others expense.

Apple likes to loudly tout how iMessage is safe from spying & subpoenas, despite the fact that the key exchange is weak and easy to undermine:

* http://www.zdnet.com/article/hackers-heres-how-apples-imessage-surveillance-flaw-works-video/
* http://www.tomsguide.com/us/is-apple-imessage-secure%2Cnews-17741.html

Re: I don't get it (Score: 1)

by wilson@pipedot.org on 2015-10-08 18:22 (#PWVS)

Well, they are trying to fix it -> http://www.gottabemobile.com/2015/02/17/how-to-secure-imessage-and-facetime/

It's not perfect, but at the moment I would say it beats the competition.

Re: I don't get it (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-10-09 05:20 (#PY8M)

Well, they are trying to fix it -> http://www.gottabemobile.com/2015/02/17/how-to-secure-imessage-and-facetime/
No they aren't. You seem confused. The flaws have nothing to do with user passwords and 2-factor authentication. That's a whole other area where Apple is (or at least was) horribly, absurdly insecure.
It's not perfect, but at the moment I would say it beats the competition.
No, there are plenty of more secure options:

* http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6981-secure-messaging-apps-business.html

Re: I don't get it (Score: 1)

by wilson@pipedot.org on 2015-10-09 06:55 (#PYER)

No they aren't. You seem confused. The flaws have nothing to do with user passwords and 2-factor authentication. That's a whole other area where Apple is (or at least was) horribly, absurdly insecure.
Such as...?
No, there are plenty of more secure options:

* http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6981-secure-messaging-apps-business.html
Are you really linking to an article that starts with Blackberry messenger?

http://lighthouseinsights.in/indian-government-can-now-monitor-blackberry-messenger-and-internet-service-email.html/

Re: I don't get it (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-10-09 09:08 (#PYRZ)

I already included two links which explain iMessage flaws in detail. Any reason why you didn't read them the first time around?

Yes, but how do I verify what is implemented? (Score: 2, Insightful)

by Anonymous Coward on 2015-10-08 06:23 (#PTM2)

Is there a way to verify the implementation of these claimed policies? If this was verifiable then Mr. Cook has nearly convinced me to purchase an iPhone.

Otherwise this is all a bunch of claims likely spoken to win unmerited business.