Tim Cook slams UK spy bill that could require breakable encryption
Sam Oliver
Apple chief executive Tim Cook on Monday voiced staunch opposition to the UK's proposed Investigatory Powers Bill, a measure that would force companies to retain customer data and may require them to install backdoors in any encrypted systems.
"To protect people who use any products, you have to encrypt," Cook told the Telegraph. "You can just look around and see all the data breaches that are going on...we believe very strongly in end to end encryption and no back doors."
Cook warned that requiring companies to add backdoors could have "dire consequences," saying that "any backdoor is a backdoor for everyone."
"It's not the case that encryption is a rare thing that only two or three rich companies own and you can regulate them in some way. Encryption is widely available. It may make someone feel good for a moment but it's not really of benefit. If you halt or weaken encryption, the people that you hurt are not the folks that want to do bad things. It's the good people. The other people know where to go."
Thanks to globalization, Cook argued, weakening security in one area can have adverse affects on everyone. "We are all connected, whether we like it or not," he said.
Christine McKee
William Gallagher
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56 Comments
Glad to see him out in front on this issue. Google execs are MIA, as usual, probably back adding more fiber for the NSA to spy on their customers. Apple, and other moral tech companies, need to start pouring money into lobbying, and more importantly to campaigns for candidates that support freedom. A billion dollars would be a good start.
"Toute nation a le gouvernement qu'elle mérite." --Maistre
The European Union and Supreme Court affirmed citizen's basic rights for privacy. Let's see how Europe reacts to this Brit law.
George Orwell is rolling over in his grave
Kind of a missed opportunity for a headline like:
"Tim Cook Slams UK Backdoor"