Cybersecurity
Apple CEO Tim Cook Keeps Support for Unbreakable Encryption
- Won't provide `back door' access for government investigators
- Calls lawmakers' criticism of tax policy `political crap'
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Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook repeated his strong support for unbreakable encryption technology, despite criticism from global law enforcement agencies that believe the digital tools impede criminal and terrorism investigations.
In an interview with CBS Corp.’s "60 Minutes" that airs Dec. 20, Cook said weakening encryption tools so that government agencies can have "back door" access isn’t the answer to preventing attacks. The interview was conducted before the shootings in Paris, where the perpetrators are believed to have used encrypted messages to communicate; Cook said later the event didn’t change his opinion on the issue, according to CBS and interview excerpts provided by the show.