In a recent gathering at Apple Park, Apple CEO Tim Cook hosted spouses of global political figures, including Jill Biden and South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee, for a discussion centered on mental health. The event, occurring alongside a summit on American-Pacific issues, turned into a platform for Cook to assert Apple’s staunch privacy stance, especially concerning the Apple Watch.
Among the attendees were Papua New Guinea’s Rachael Marape, First Lady of the Philippines Louise Araneta-Marcos, Malaysia’s Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail, and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, with Blackpink singer Rosé also present. Discussions ranged from the impact of social media on celebrities to strategies for mental well-being in the post-COVID era.
A pointed query from Dr. Wan Azizah binti Wan Ismail about Apple’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI) and privacy sparked a noteworthy moment. Ismail, highlighting privacy concerns, suggested that Apple Watch users are constantly monitored. Cook firmly refuted this, stating, “Absolutely not actually,” and emphasized Apple’s identity as a “privacy company”. He elaborated on Apple’s minimal data collection policy, the use of on-device data storage, and robust encryption practices, assuring that the company doesn’t access user data.
The conversation also touched on the potential mental health implications of data privacy. Cook responded by underscoring the integral role of privacy and security in Apple’s ethos, viewing them as complementary to each other in safeguarding user well-being.
This meeting at Apple Park not only highlighted the ongoing discourse on mental health and technology, but also reinforced Apple’s commitment to user privacy, a principle Cook vehemently defended in light of growing global concerns around data security and personal well-being.
