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It's worth remembering that Apple have stated that "conversations which take place over iMessage and FaceTime are protected by end-to-end encryption so no one b

It's worth remembering that Apple have stated that "conversations which take place over iMessage and FaceTime are protected by end-to-end encryption so no one but the sender and receiver can see or read them. Apple cannot decrypt that data."[1] I suspect that Cook is anticipating legislation that would require that Apple re-engineer its services to support "lawful" interception of the content of messages/conversations, but is hoping that adopting a aggressive stance now will result in a compromise end state whereby interception must happen proactively and by exception (and within a clear legal framework - e.g. authorised by a warrant or court order) as opposed to a mass surveillance regime where everything is hoovered up (i.e. intercepted and stored). 1: https://www.apple.com/apples-commitment-to-customer-privacy/ https://www.apple.com/apples-commitment-to-customer-privacy/

higherpurpose 12y ago
Are iMessages automatically synced to iCloud on iOS? In that case Apple can see the copies of the messages, from most people. As for Facetime, I think only the voice calls are end-to-end, not the video chats as well.
- jonhohle 12y ago
  Wrong (from what's known about iMessage). All devices have a distinct history of messages - http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/27/apple-explains-exactly-how-secure-imessage-really-is/ http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/27/apple-explains-exactly-how-... Apple says FaceTime messages are end-to-end encrypted https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-built-in/ https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-built-in/
walshemj 12y ago
id suspect that is the case pity that the other invited tech leaders didn't go - but Tim always struck me that he understands politics in a way Larry Sergei, Eric and Zuckerberg just don't get
- slasaus 12y ago
  The business model of Facebook and Google is about getting to know as much as possible about you. Apple makes most money without your data.
russell_h 12y ago
This. A few weeks ago Obama came in on the side of David Cameron and the FBI in support of outlawing strong encryption: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/01/16/obama-sides-with-cameron-in-encryption-fight/ http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/01/16/obama-sides-with-came... After yesterday's event he appeared to back off of that position: http://recode.net/2015/02/13/obama-theres-no-scenario-in-which-we-dont-want-really-strong-encryption/ http://recode.net/2015/02/13/obama-theres-no-scenario-in-whi... Should be interesting to see how it all plays out - its an odd situation when we're turning to Apple, Google and Facebook to defend our information privacy.

higherpurpose 12y ago

Are iMessages automatically synced to iCloud on iOS? In that case Apple can see the copies of the messages, from most people. As for Facetime, I think only the voice calls are end-to-end, not the video chats as well.

jonhohle 12y ago
Wrong (from what's known about iMessage). All devices have a distinct history of messages - http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/27/apple-explains-exactly-how-secure-imessage-really-is/ http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/27/apple-explains-exactly-how-... Apple says FaceTime messages are end-to-end encrypted https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-built-in/ https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-built-in/

walshemj 12y ago

id suspect that is the case pity that the other invited tech leaders didn't go - but Tim always struck me that he understands politics in a way Larry Sergei, Eric and Zuckerberg just don't get

slasaus 12y ago
The business model of Facebook and Google is about getting to know as much as possible about you. Apple makes most money without your data.

russell_h 12y ago

This. A few weeks ago Obama came in on the side of David Cameron and the FBI in support of outlawing strong encryption: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/01/16/obama-sides-with-cameron-in-encryption-fight/ http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/01/16/obama-sides-with-came... After yesterday's event he appeared to back off of that position: http://recode.net/2015/02/13/obama-theres-no-scenario-in-which-we-dont-want-really-strong-encryption/ http://recode.net/2015/02/13/obama-theres-no-scenario-in-whi... Should be interesting to see how it all plays out - its an odd situation when we're turning to Apple, Google and Facebook to defend our information privacy.