Privacy is a 'fundamental human right' - Apple CEO

Big corporation and companies have come under a lot of scrutiny when dealing with government requests, especially in relation to handing over private messages.

Tim Cook, Apple CEO, which is the most valuable tech company in the world, has stated that privacy is a fundamental human right.

At a sit-down with NPR to talk about privacy, Cook described it as a “fundamental human right.” The comment comes after Apple updated its website to make its position on privacy much clearer, something Cook describes as “a values point” rather than a “commercial interest.”

Big corporation and companies have come under a lot of scrutiny when dealing with government requests, especially in relation to handing over private messages.

"The government comes to us from time to time, and if they ask in a way that is correct, and has been through the courts as is required, then to the degree that we have information, we give that information," said Cook to NPR.

Cook also threw shade at Google, particularly the tech giant’s advertising practices which some users see as invasive, although Cook made sure to not mention the company by name.

"We [Apple] don't collect a lot of your data and understand every detail about your life," he said. "That's just not the business that we are in." 

Apple is making a big case for the privacy aspect of online services provision, setting itself up against Google and Facebook.

While it is obviously something that Cook feels passionately about, Apple does not make the bulk of its money from selling personalized ads, which require knowledge about the user, so it can bash the other online giants as much as it pleases.

The discussion briefly touched on Apple’s rumored self-driving car, which is said to rival Tesla, but Cook gave nothing away simply stating that he had read all of the news reports but Apple is focused on its existing line of products.