Tim Cook to discuss Apple Watch privacy concerns in the wake of iCloud scandal

By Andy Boxall Published September 16, 2014

Connecticut Attorney State General George Jepsen has called Apple CEO Tim Cook to a meeting, where the new Apple Watch will be the topic of conversation. No, Jepson isn’t hoping to score an early model (so far as we know), but wants to grill Cook over how our privacy will be protected when using the Watch to collect health and location data.

Specifically, Jepsen wants more details on where this personal information will be stored, and the security measures which will be put in place to keep it safe. Quoted by Bloomberg, Jepsen said by opening up a “proactive dialogue about privacy concerns before a product comes to market is an effective and mutually beneficial way to ensure that privacy is protected.”

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It’s not just about how Apple intends to keep our data safe either. Jepsen’s also going to be quizzing Cook on third-party developers, and what they’ll need to do to gain our consent to monitor and collect data from the Watch. Depending on the answers he receives, Jepson wants to push Apple to alter its existing privacy policies. Interestingly, he’ll also ask Apple not to approve certain medical and health apps, specifically those which claim to offer advice or diagnosis without the correct regulatory approvals.

Related: Everything you need to know about the Apple Watch

Attorney General Jepsen is no stranger to addressing privacy concerns related to cutting edge wearable tech products, and last year held a similar meeting with Google’s management team over Google Glass. Several years before this, Jepsen raised concerns over Facebook’s use of facial recognition technology.

The Apple Watch was announced alongside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at the beginning of September. Just days before this, Apple’s iCloud online storage system was at the center of a scandal involving leaked pictures of celebrities in various states of undress, which may have prompted Jepsen to act quickly once the Watch was made official. Tim Cook has already fielded questions on privacy from chat show host Charlie Rose, saying Apple is a company based on selling hardware, “not based on having information on you.”

Despite being publicly unveiled, Apple won’t put the Watch on sale until early 2015.

Former Senior Mobile Writer

Andy has written about mobile technology for almost a decade. From 2G to 5G and smartphone to smartwatch, Andy knows tech.

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