Tim Cook Delivers a Speech in Which He Emphasizes Apple's Opposition to Sideloading

 Tim Cook Delivers a Speech in Which He Emphasizes Apple's Opposition to Sideloading

Apple CEO Tim Cook gave the keynote address today at the Global Privacy Summit in Washington, D.C. The International Association of Privacy Professionals is hosting the conference, which focuses on international privacy and data protection.

Cook discussed Apple's ongoing commitment to privacy, which the company has repeatedly referred to as a fundamental human right.

We at Apple are proud to stand alongside all those who are working to advance privacy rights around the world. As a company, we are profoundly inspired by what technology can make possible, but we know too that technology is neither inherently good, nor inherently bad. It is what we make of it. It is a mirror that reflects the ambitions of the people who use it, the people who build it, and the people who regulate it. 

Cook emphasized Apple's privacy features that give users control over their data, such as App Tracking Transparency, but expressed "deep concern" about proposed regulations that would weaken these features and expose users to privacy and security risks. The proposed Digital Markets Act in the European Union, for example, would require Apple to allow sideloading of apps on the iPhone outside of the App Store. 

Here in Washington and elsewhere, policymakers are taking steps in the name of competition that would force Apple to let apps onto iPhone that circumvent the App Store through a process called sideloading," said Cook. "That means data-hungry companies would be able to avoid our privacy rules and once again track our users against their will. It would also potentially give bad actors a way around the comprehensive security protections we have put in place, putting them in direct contact with our users.

Cook stated that Apple is committed to advancing regulations that do not jeopardize privacy. 

And when we see that, we feel obligated to speak up and ask policymakers to collaborate with us to advance goals that I truly believe we share, without jeopardizing privacy.

Cook and other senior Apple executives, including software engineering chief Craig Federighi, have repeatedly stated the company's opposition to regulations requiring sideloading and third-party app stores on the iPhone.

The discussion thread for this topic is located in our Political News forum due to the political or social nature of the discussion. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but only forum members with at least 100 posts are allowed to post.