UPDATE: Watch the complete exclusive extended interview of Tim Cook from “World News Tonight with David Muir”:
Credit ABC News / “World News Tonight with David Muir”
————————————————————————————————–
Tim Cook has taken a bold stand on privacy. He has been both adamant and consistent in his defense of encryption and privacy, and that has placed him–and Apple–at odds with the US government and its intelligence agencies. The issue has culminated in a high-profile legal battle between the FBI and Apple over efforts to gain access to an iPhone that belonged to one of the San Bernardino shooting terrorists.
The FBI insists this is a one-time request, specific to this device and solely for the purposes of identifying and thwarting any remaining terrorist threats related to the San Bernardino shooters. It has accused Apple of putting its reputation and brand marketing over national security or the lives lost in that shooting, and has essentially painted Apple as unpatriotic and attempting to obstruct a federal investigation.
Tim Cook sat down with David Muir for an exclusive interview with ABC News. The interview will be aired this evening on World News Tonight. In the interview, Cook takes exception to the way that the FBI has handled this issue and the adversarial approach that was taken from the beginning. Cook tells Muir, “I don’t think that something so important to this country should be handled in this way.”
Credit ABC News / “World News Tonight with David Muir”
Muir also presses Cook on whether it’s a good idea for Apple to take such a strong stand in protecting a terrorist’s privacy. Cook explains the broader implications of what the FBI is asking for and states, “This would be bad for America.”
Muir asks Cook if it haunts him at all that Apple could ostensibly help prevent another terrorist attack if there is important information on the iPhone in question. Cook responds with, “Some things are hard, and some things are right, and some things are both. This is one of those things.”
Credit ABC News / “World News Tonight with David Muir”
Tune in to “World News Tonight with David Muir” on ABC tonight (Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 – 7:00pm EST) to watch the interview. The extended exclusive interview will be available online at ABCNews.com immediately following “World News Tonight.” “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” ABC News Radio and ABC NewsOne will also air portions of the interview.