Tim Cook Talks Privacy, User Trust, Morning Routine, and More in Financial Review Interview

[cbns]

"he likes to read emails from customers as it helps him keep a "pulse on what customers are feeling."

then read a frikin customer email about your invasive scanning ********, jesus christ

 

[cbns]

“AI will take away some of the mundane things we do every day, he says, and free up our time so we can do more of what we love."

Is he serious? Give me a break. Automation and computerization were touted back in the mid-20th Century as being able to “take away some of the mundane things we do every day….and free up our time so we can do more of what we love."

That’s not how it works out. Instead, corporations say, “Gee, it does all that work for you? Now you have more free time? GREAT! We’ll just pile more work and responsibility on you, so you’ll work the same number of hours as before (or even more), so you can get even MORE done, and fatten up our profit margins to even more obese proportions! The *corporation‘s* bottom line will benefit from this, not YOU!”

That some tech innovation will make workers lives better, and we can magically start working shorter hours and do “more of what we love” is a sick joke. It’s false, because corporations take advantage of it to push workers harder. It’s all about MONEY MONEY MONEY (and only for a select few, because they’ll pay you less at the same time).

You're looking at that the wrong way dude. That mainly applies to automation in the industry. I.e. robots making our food and products doesn't mean you can work less. But a smart dishwasher or something does directly impact your life and employers don't make you work longer if you own one

 

[nvmls]

Typical Timmey scripted interview, full of blah blah, no content.

 

[Expos of 1969]

As mentioned everyone makes mistakes, organisations too. I think its premature and historically incorrect to call Tim's appointment a mistake, albeit this latest software on our idea is a howler of a mistake.

Tim's been at helm since 2011, and as suggested he's made some good calls, and some bad calls as did Steve, albeit his good call in NeXT and NeXT step are why apple has progressed so well.

Its not uncommon though for founders of a company to hand over to a more marketing orientated Chief Exec. as once an organisation grows it may require different skillsets, and Tim has also presided over some decent advances at Apple, albeit I've been a critic on occasions where I've believed glitz has taken too much of a front view.

Tim has never pretended to be Steve and has the utmost respect for him, and we should reserve respect for Tim, understanding that everyone makes mistakes, but the measure is those who are prepared to acknowledge them and take action on them.

You don't oversee a company like Apple for a decade without having skills.
Not sure if Apple Customer Pulse still exists, but Apple really need to have much more end users involved and listen to them.

The only fear is when a company becomes so large its like an empire where power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and here's hoping its not happening at Apple, and I like to think of it as just a blip.

Time to log off for a few days as it might sound twee but its taken a bit of a toll and I'm a lot older than Tim!

Have a nice cold beer or a glass of scotch, put some good music on and put your feet up. Lots of more interesting things to contemplate and savour than what Apple is doing.

 

[Khedron]

Tim is well placed to discuss how he trashed more user trust than any CEO in history

 

[bobenhaus]

Such an oxymoron with the use of CSAM . Shame on him.

 

[Apple2GS]

Does anyone care about Tim's morning routine? He isn't Steve Job or Elon Musk. He's just a boring manager, nothing wrong with that, but stop trying to make him a rock star, it's not going to happening.

 

[TheToolGuide]

An interview conducted before the announcement of CSAM makes this article look dated.

“Does he think people's trust has been taken advantage of?

"In some cases the answer is undeniably yes. And I think it's incumbent on all of us to rebuild that trust."

I wonder what his answer would be now Apple are forcing users of iCloud in iOS15 to allow their phones to be searched for ‘hashes’.

Have Apple taken advantage of peoples trust considering they promised people privacy only to announce they will review private images on their personal devices?

Do they still believe it is incumbent to rebuild that trust now they have begun to erode it?

I think Apple’s approach to privacy going forward will have to be different or they will leave them self open to criticism of being hypocritical.

It doesn’t sound like you fully understand how the CSAM system works. Apple isn’t reviewing just anything. In fact they don’t review anything unless your device states you have 30 hashes, not to be confused with images, that match illegal hashes. Then you still have to have iCloud Photos turned on because you could have hashes and if this feature was never turned on the system would never flag any of it. After all of that they would only review those images that matched the illegal hashes and nothing more.

All of this is done on your device which you can control by turning features on and off.

Not taking the time to understand how the system works is what erodes the trust they have built with many about privacy. Apple has constantly tried to keep you and others educated on how it works.

Your issue appears to be that you simply do not trust Apple and want to distort their message to malicious intent. You’re entitled to it.

 

[dgrey]

You're looking at that the wrong way dude. That mainly applies to automation in the industry. I.e. robots making our food and products doesn't mean you can work less. But a smart dishwasher or something does directly impact your life and employers don't make you work longer if you own one

You know what a robot “making products” does “dude”? It makes people jobless.

 

[TheToolGuide]

'In several countries, including Australia, Apple is under investigation for alleged monopolistic practices and behavior that could be considered anti-competitive. Probes, still ongoing in many cases, are likely pointing to increased regulation that would Apple and how it operates the ‌App Store‌.'

Possibly explains the leverage to introduce on hardware surveillance with the potential for a much more serious "backdoor" in the name of child safety.

Ally that to governments and some of its agencies, and EU, who can also exert their influence on what Apple has to do to avoid severe fines...there is incredible leverage, leverage China has already used successfully.

I'd much prefer it if Apple said 'we've been forced to introduce a backdoo', which is why its going on your hardware.'

But no doubt NDA's, which is ironic, as non disclosure via securing privacy was a mainstay of Apple's good reputation.

Either should either drop the poor idea that is a PR nightmare or explain who they have installed it for, because sure as hell it isn't users, as they've not been asked and do not apparently get a choice of having this element of the software installed on their own devices.

No doubt the replies will be inundated with those trying to obscure the fact it is surveillance, by sayings its only a hash, but its still data, its still surveillance and it still represents a backdoor that can be exploited.

You do not understand what a hash is. Likely you don’t fully understand what a back door is. A lot of this stems from what appears to be a lack of trust of Apple and likely any agency. You appear to not see the differences in governments and companies. They share attributes but operate very differently. They are also penalized differently if they do something illegal as well.

NDAs and classified information are also very different things. One involves fines the other involves treason. Viewed and handled very differently.

There is so much speculation and fear mongering in your comment that I don’t think you will take the time to vet any information and I‘m implore you to do so. If only to provide a reasonable argument to the side of concern and caution.

If you’ve already judged Apple as guilty than anything they do or try with good intention will be tarnished by your position. Even with the task of trying to address illegal photos of kids.

 

[svish]

Tim says that he wants to keep his hands on the pulse of what customers are feeling, thinking and doing. He says that privacy issues are now main stream. The people's main concern now is on surveillance. Hope Tim addresses this positively to the satisfaction of loyal Apple fans.

 

[TheToolGuide]

You know what a robot “making products” does “dude”? It makes people jobless.

You’re correct. A lot of jobs have been eliminated by automation through software and robotics. It sucks when I‘ll lose my job or I’ll have to make a change in my life because something like this will inevitably happen.

However this is also part of a business evolving to keep up with it competitors. If people were better at doing something of these tasks, and there are good arguments for it, than a lot of growing companies wouldn’t transition to it.

Sometimes all this automation needs labor to maintain it which creates new jobs. Maybe not jobs for the people who were replaced by it but jobs none the less. This is evolution as well of our job market. Doing more with less is ideal.

I to fear the day that the skills that I’ve attained over the years will be rendered obsolete and I could possibly have a difficult time looking for work in a dwindling profession. However I also recognize that things can’t always remain how they are.

I don’t know what kind of work you do but likely you entered into your industry doing work that was created by change from what it was before to what you are doing now. Speculative I’m sure but a very common thing in any industry.

Good career choices, expanding your knowledge, and proper investments are good things to establish in life to brace your future against just such a situation. Also changing professions helps build your skills and hopefully keeps you marketable and employees. Though we always strive for it one should never feel to comfortable in their long standing job.

 

[dgrey]

You’re correct. A lot of jobs have been eliminated by automation through software and robotics. It sucks when I‘ll lose my job or I’ll have to make a change in my life because something like this will inevitably happen.

However this is also part of a business evolving to keep up with it competitors. If people were better at doing something of these tasks, and there are good arguments for it, than a lot of growing companies wouldn’t transition to it.

Sometimes all this automation needs labor to maintain it which creates new jobs. Maybe not jobs for the people who were replaced by it but jobs none the less. This is evolution as well of our job market. Doing more with less is ideal.

I to fear the day that the skills that I’ve attained over the years will be rendered obsolete and I could possibly have a difficult time looking for work in a dwindling profession. However I also recognize that things can’t always remain how they are.

I don’t know what kind of work you do but likely you entered into your industry doing work that was created by change from what it was before to what you are doing now. Speculative I’m sure but a very common thing in any industry.

Good career choices, expanding your knowledge, and proper investments are good things to establish in life to brace your future against just such a situation. Also changing professions helps build your skills and hopefully keeps you marketable and employees. Though we always strive for it one should never feel to comfortable in their long standing job.

Go back and read the very first response in this thread.

 

[TheToolGuide]

Go back and read the very first response in this thread.

I have gone back and re-read what you commented on and still stand by my opinion. However it sounds like you do not like what you do. Or you do like what you do but since it changing you are upset you won’t get to do it because something else is doing it for you and now you may have to do something you do not like.

I get it. It really sucks. You may be in the right as well when it comes to your job and others like it. I’m just pointing out the flaw in your thought that things change only to make more money for the company. They change so the company can stay competitive or in a profitable position because if it didn’t it would eventually go out of business without eventually making those changes.

If you want to get laws passed that companies have to keep X amount of employees per Y amount of automation I’m all for a good system. I don’t want to see tradesman lose their jobs to automation either. I just understand that it is inevitable in a society that has competition.

 

[dgrey]

I have gone back and re-read what you commented on and still stand by my opinion. However it sounds like you do not like what you do. Or you do like what you do but since it changing you are upset you won’t get to do it because something else is doing it for you and now you may have to do something you do not like.

I get it. It really sucks. You may be in the right as well when it comes to your job and others like it. I’m just pointing out the flaw in your thought that things change only to make more money for the company. They change so the company can stay competitive or in a profitable position because if it didn’t it would eventually go out of business without eventually making those changes.

If you want to get laws passed that companies have to keep X amount of employees per Y amount of automation I’m all for a good system. I don’t want to see tradesman lose their jobs to automation either. I just understand that it is inevitable in a society that has competition.

You don't get what I wrote at all, and you massively speculate. What I wrote has nothing to do with my job or any job I have ever done in particular, but is about the effects of computerization and automation in the workplace in general, and how corporstions exploit it, to their advantage, and not the workers, by selling lies. In fact, your very first paragraph is completely disconnected from what I wrote, as if you didn‘t read it.

P.S. Let me give you a Cliffs Notes to help you: Automation and computerization do not make people’s lives easier in the workplace by “doing mundane tasks and giving them more fee time to do what they love.” As soon as your job gets easier to do and you have “more time” because of tech, you are just piled on with even more work to do, because the corporation can squeeze that much more out of you, and exploit you even more.

 

[_Spinn_]

At this point privacy and user trust are both gone when it comes to Apple.

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

Apple: wE cArE aBoUt YoUr PrIvAcY

 

[TimB21]

We need to ban cars and get back to the horse and buggy; more jobs for poop cleaners, grooms, buggy manufacturers. Don't even get me started about that Thomas Edison.

 

[Peter Kunz]

I just don't buy this anymore. Time to sell those aapl $hares

 

[MrPresident]

It doesn’t sound like you fully understand how the CSAM system works. Apple isn’t reviewing just anything. In fact they don’t review anything unless your device states you have 30 hashes, not to be confused with images, that match illegal hashes. Then you still have to have iCloud Photos turned on because you could have hashes and if this feature was never turned off the system would never flag any of it. After all of that they would only review those images that matched the illegal hashes and nothing more.

All of this is done on your device which you can control by turning features on and off.

Not taking the time to understand how the system works is what erodes the trust they have built with many about privacy. Apple has constantly tried to keep you and others educated on how it works.

Your issue appears to be that you simply do not trust Apple and want to distort their message to malicious intent. You’re entitled to it.

You’re telling me I don’t understand the system when you’ve missed the clues in my post.

I know Apple doesn’t review anything, I acknowledged that Apple searches for ‘hashes’.

I stated that users of iCloud in iOS 15 are the people this will effect.

Don’t assume I don’t understand because you glossed over my comment.

It is true that the you have ultimate control over these features but acknowledging the capability is there to view ‘hashes’ and data is interesting, if not a bit alarming.

I have taken the time to understand the system, my comment clearly shows that. Apple has made information about this available on more than one occasion; an obvious indication it is controversial and incoherent.

I do trust Apple, they are the only tech company I truly trust which is exactly why my message is so passionate. Just because I do not dedicate myself in a cult-like way doesn’t mean I do not support them. It just means I have perspective and can see flaws in their workings and form opinions around them.

Your issue seems to be your blind faith in Apple and need to defend the company against reasonably fair criticism. You are entitled.

 

[TheToolGuide]

You’re telling me I don’t understand the system when you’ve missed the clues in my post.

I know Apple doesn’t review anything, I acknowledged that Apple searches for ‘hashes’.

I stated that users of iCloud in iOS 15 are the people this will effect.

Don’t assume I don’t understand because you glossed over my comment.

It is true that the you have ultimate control over these features but acknowledging the capability is there to view ‘hashes’ and data is interesting, if not a bit alarming.

I have taken the time to understand the system, my comment clearly shows that. Apple has made information about this available on more than one occasion; an obvious indication it is controversial and incoherent.

I do trust Apple, they are the only tech company I truly trust which is exactly why my message is so passionate. Just because I do not dedicate myself in a cult-like way doesn’t mean I do not support them. It just means I have perspective and can see flaws in their workings and form opinions around them.

Your issue seems to be your blind faith in Apple and need to defend the company against reasonably fair criticism. You are entitled.

You acknowledged they search for hashes, which technically they don’t, but your phone does (semantics I know). In the very next sentence you state “Have Apple taken advantage of peoples trust considering they promised people privacy only to announce they will review private images on their personal devices?” Which they don’t. If you truly understand how it works then why blur the meaning?

Your comment is confusing. Maybe spend some time to be a bit more coherent which also means your comment doesn’t clearly show that.

I’m not saying there aren’t flaws but I have not seen one that is actually true, just presumptuous. Can you point to a flaw and explain it coherently with your perspective?

They themselves acknowledged their messaging could’ve been better. Outside of providing a few more details like the 30 hash threshold they pretty much told us how the system works from the beginning.

If this invades anyone privacy it is those of people who have illegal images. If by some crazy set of odds a flaw is exposed it will either be patched or the protocols in place will be modified to reduce or prevent it. If Apple means what they say they intend to do with this feature then they will also put in to work to make sure it is successful at doing it and won‘t get abused.

I think that they understand very well the bad press they are going to get. I’m assuming they are willing to take it because it’s worth it to stop the real problem which is the people who are collecting these illegal images and abusing children and not protect their image.

 

[Playfoot]

Many people like to moan and whine. It gives them a voice and a short-lived blip of power that's otherwise lacking in their lives. Still, the followthrough is almost nowhere to be found. The faux outrage will not translate to voting with wallets. That requires courage. Life goes on, Earth completes another rotation around its axis.

Well, we have put plans to replace our late 2016 custom Macbook Pros on hold. Something that will drive us crazy given who faulty the machines were, the terrible keyboards, and of course the Touch Bar.

And for the fun of it, while IT laughs at me, I have broken out some old non-smart phones.

Finally, we are looking at how to beef up encryption.

Nonetheless you are likely correct. However, I think for different reasons: there are few options for the non tech savvy, or those without the skills. Most have to accept the ongoing erosion in privacy brought about by the likes of Apple.

 

[bigandtasty]

I find it incredible, just how closely an airbrushed Tim Cook looks like Ellen Degeneres... Is it just me?

 

[Freeangel1]

Starts is workday at 4am at his desk?
Sits around for at least 3 hours before others show up for work?
Probably out the door every day by 11am or sooner.

I liked Steve Jobs.

Tim Cook is Weird, Gets emotional when pushed certain questions, He is NO Steve Jobs.

 

[SFjohn]

I’m guessing this was forced on Apple under an NDA that hides the people forcing this back door. I imagine Tim Cook hates this even more than the ACLU does. He could quit, but if he stays he can try to limit how bad this goes. (And obviously it’s going to get really bad.) Either way he can’t complain. The only way to stop this is for everyone to turn off photo sharing in iCloud. All the CSAM targets will do that. Everyone else is getting spied on, and occasionally blackmailed, framed, and killed. It‘s a bad turn for Apple & civil rights.