The company’s privacy battle with the FBI was the main focus at the Apple shareholder meeting today.
CEO Tim Cook reiterated the company’s intention to fight a court order that compels engineers to create software capable of bypassing the iPhone’s passcode security system. Yesterday, Apple filed its official objection to the ruling.
“We are a staunch advocate of privacy,” Cook told shareholders. “Being hard doesn’t scare us.”
The showdown with the government over the data contained on San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook has dominated everything Apple has done lately. Authorities have put the company in the unenviable position of having to choose between defending the privacy and security safeguards its customer expect and appearing to support terrorism, as some have claimed. Apple’s response has been to go on the offensive and defend its position at every opportunity, including its annual shareholder meeting.
Cook appeared on ABC World News Tonight earlier this week to make its case, and he admitted that the company’s position was difficult, but it was ultimately the right call.
Investigators claim that they will only use the software they’re asking for on the phone involved in this case, but other officials, like the Manhattan District Attorney, expect to use a ruling against Apple to compel it to unlock hundreds of other phones in their custody.
It wasn’t all gloom and politics, however; Cook also fit some numbers into the meeting. The company has bought up 19 companies over the past year, including some that have developed mapping software and, even more interestingly, one that specializes in augmented reality. Apple has also spent $8.5 billion in research and development this year.
Apple and law enforcement will appear in front of Congress on March 1 to make their cases.
Via: USA Today
Evan Killham is a freelance writer who lives in Nebraska and isn’t interested in football, so he has plenty of time to play and think about video games. He has written for Bitmob and GamesBeat and sometimes, he even goes outside. But not too often because he’s heard there are bees out there. Occasionally, companies send free units for review. Evan subscribes to Cult of Mac’s Reviews Policy and also does not keep the items he receives for possible coverage.
4 responses to “Privacy battle dominates Apple shareholder meeting”
The smug Samsung-using-asshole at work snickered and hoped for Tim Cok behind bars.
Told him that if this goes through, Androidphones will be next…
There will be nothing safe in the world if Comey has anything to say.
I certainly hope that Apple “science the shit out of this”, and makes next version totally safe.
Add “ignorant” to the Samsung-using-asshole if he doesn’t realize the ramifications of this.
Nah, his just plain stupid. I suspect “dropped at birth”….
Even if Apple is forced (worst case scenario) into doing this, i’m almost positive that Tim Cook won’t let it happen again. And we’ll prob see an update that makes it impossible for anyone even Apple themselves to crack the phone.