This week is the 2022 summit of the IAPP or the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, was the guest of honor at this event, which focuses on consumer privacy and how to protect it. During an opening speech, the American businessman dwelt on “one of the most important battles of our time“.
apple on the privacy front
For several years now, Apple has been trying to present itself as the spearhead of GAFA privacy protectors. After iOS 15 and its “mail privacy protection”, which allows you to hide your IP address, including in your emails, a new system allowing access to information collected by the applications used has been presented. Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, has been improved and now works without being connected to the internet. Locally processed processes that save speed and protect user data at the same time.
And at the 2022 edition of the IAPP, Cook acknowledged that protecting privacy is not easy. However, it remains “one of the most important battles of our time”. And for good reason, according to Cook, some “policymakers are taking steps, in the name of competition, that would force Apple to allow apps to be used on the iPhone that bypass the App Store through a process called sideloading“. With its App Store, Apple imposes strict rules that developers must comply with. Security protocols that serve to ward off malicious developers.
A side loading which risks becoming problematic if it is imposed on Apple by a law: “This means that data-hungry companies will be able to circumvent our privacy rules and, once again, track our users against their will.“ warns Tim Cook. So anyone could get around”comprehensive security protections in place.” The main argument of the opposing camp remains the possibility of offering choice to consumers. “But by removing a safer option, users will have less choice, not more. And when companies decide to leave the App Store because they want to mine user data, it could put significant pressure on people to engage with other platforms. Platforms where their privacy and security might not be protected.”
Part of the reason Cook wants developers to be forced to abide by the rules is because if “unapproved apps are installed on the iPhone, the unintended consequences will be profound.” Of course, if alternatives to the App Store exist for iPhone owners, the shortfall could be substantial. Cook took advantage of this speech to reaffirm that Apple continues to “defend encryption without a backdoor – because we know that if you install a backdoor, anyone can use it“. Privacy is a daily battle and Tim Cook wants Apple to be one of the cornerstones of this battle on smartphones. It remains to be seen whether the politicians will let him operate freely.