Early in June, Apple’s Tim Cook wrote to legislators involved in the drafting of the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA). In the letter, Mr. Cook said that Apple realizes that there are several outstanding issues, but “the areas of agreement appear to be far outweigh the differences.”
Cook said that privacy is a “fundamental human right” for Apple and we believe in protecting users and their information by default. “We do this by minimizing the data we collect, processing as much data as possible on a user’s device, giving users transparency as to what data is collected and control as to how it is and building robust systems to protect user data,” Cook wrote.
Shortly after the letter was made public, users began posting on social media their disbelief in Cook’s sincerity.
Shortly thereafter, Simon Randall, CEO of Pimloc (a video privacy and security company) came to Cook’s defense. “Apple is proof that it is possible to build a thriving digital company without harming people’s civil liberties,” Randall told Infosecurity Magazine.
“It is possible for companies to generate huge value from the digital ecosystem while still respecting privacy. Regulators must design rules that enable technology to serve mankind, not enslave it.”
There appears to be some hope for new privacy legislation after three key legislators released a bipartisan discussion draft of ADPPA. On June 1st, the draft of the bill was released by House Energy and Commerce Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee. Notably missing from this group of supporters was Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) who believes that the bill needs to be stronger.
The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) has been following the ADPPA and its Managing Director, Coburn Zweifel-Keegan, recently threw a wet towel on the negotiations, saying that it will be at least 2023 before we see some legislation enacted.
If you are interested in the status of privacy legislation at the state level, IAPP has an informative website with the latest information.
Cook said that privacy is a “fundamental human right” for Apple and we believe in protecting users and their information by default. “We do this by minimizing the data we collect, processing as much data as possible on a user’s device, giving users transparency as to what data is collected and control as to how it is and building robust systems to protect user data,” Cook wrote.
Shortly after the letter was made public, users began posting on social media their disbelief in Cook’s sincerity.
Shortly thereafter, Simon Randall, CEO of Pimloc (a video privacy and security company) came to Cook’s defense. “Apple is proof that it is possible to build a thriving digital company without harming people’s civil liberties,” Randall told Infosecurity Magazine.
“It is possible for companies to generate huge value from the digital ecosystem while still respecting privacy. Regulators must design rules that enable technology to serve mankind, not enslave it.”
There appears to be some hope for new privacy legislation after three key legislators released a bipartisan discussion draft of ADPPA. On June 1st, the draft of the bill was released by House Energy and Commerce Chair Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), ranking member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee. Notably missing from this group of supporters was Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) who believes that the bill needs to be stronger.
The International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) has been following the ADPPA and its Managing Director, Coburn Zweifel-Keegan, recently threw a wet towel on the negotiations, saying that it will be at least 2023 before we see some legislation enacted.
If you are interested in the status of privacy legislation at the state level, IAPP has an informative website with the latest information.
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