Skip to main content

Tim Cook’s not impressed with the UK’s proposed anti-encryption bill

Tim Cook
Image used with permission by copyright holder
In the UK, a proposed new law that would force companies to provide unencrypted data to law enforcement, provided the request came with a warrant, has captured Apple CEO Tim Cook’s attention. Named the Investigatory Powers Bill, it’s under consideration by the UK government now, so why is Tim Cook involved?

It’s actually quite simple. Apple employs end-to-end encryption technology on its iMessage platform, makes a big deal out of not invading your privacy, and has absolutely no wish to hand over any data to anyone — warrant or no warrant. In an interview with The Telegraph, Tim Cook spoke at length about the problems passing the bill could create. Ever the diplomat, he did all this without specifically mentioning Apple or its own use of encryption.

“To protect people who use any products, you have to encrypt,” said Cook. “We believe very strongly in end-to-end encryption with no back doors. We don’t think people want us to read their messages. We don’t feel we have the right to read their emails.” He went on to say that by placing a back door into any program, it can be exploited by anyone, not just law enforcement. Cook warned that by forcing the inclusion of a loophole like this could have “dire consequences.”

In the interview, Cook concentrated on the potential for human harm — both mentally and potentially, physically — if the reliance on encryption is lowered, or its made less secure. He argued that by doing this, “the people that you hurt are not the folks that want to do bad things. It’s the good people.”

Despite his words of warning, Cook says he is optimistic the UK government will do the right thing, and that public and press pressure will help push it in the correct direction. “You can’t weaken cryptography. You need to strengthen it,” he added.

Cooks words come soon after Apple told the U.S. government it cannot break the encryption built into an iPhone, even if it wanted to, following an increase in security in iOS 8 and iOS 9.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Apple CEO Tim Cook says report calling Jony Ive’s departure contentious is absurd
Jony Ive (right) and Apple CEO Tim Cook look over the new Mac Pro Display

Apple CEO Tim Cook called a Wall Street Journal report about superstar designer Jony Ive’s supposedly contentious departure and Cook’s own alleged lack of interest in design “absurd” in an email Monday.

Ive announced his departure from Apple on Thursday. The designer oversaw the creation of many of Apple’s most iconic products, including the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The Wall Street Journal report claimed Ive was “dispirted” by Cook’s apparent lack of interest in the product development process and that Ive had a diminishing role in Apple’s design for years. The report went on to say that Ive stopped overseeing routine management of the design team, weakening it and causing designers to leave the company.

Read more
Tim Cook said Silicon Valley built a chaos factory. Are Apple’s hands clean?
Tim Cook WWDC 2019

The King of Silicon Valley just called it a “chaos factory.”

Giving a commencement speech at Stanford University, Apple CEO Tim Cook criticized his fellow Silicon Valley giants for disregarding the privacy of their customers.

Read more
Galaxy AI is now available for these other Samsung phones
A white Samsung Galaxy S23 next to a pink Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus.

In January, Samsung introduced its Galaxy AI features alongside its Galaxy S24 series of smartphones. Since then, if you've wanted to use Galaxy AI, you've needed a Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, or Galaxy S24 Ultra. That's about to change.

Samsung just announced that it's about to bring those Galaxy AI features to a lot more devices, meaning you'll soon be able to use Galaxy AI even if you don't have a Galaxy S24.

Read more