• Apple CEO Tim Cook gave a keynote speech at the 40th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners
• In the speech he talked about how our digital information is being used against us with military efficiency
• He mentioned the “the right to have personal data minimized” and he noted that “data belongs to users,” which are the same goals of blockchain developers.

Apple CEO,Tim Cook,recently delivered a keynote speech at the 40th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (ICDPPC). To quote the CEO:

“Our own information — from the everyday to the deeply personal — is being weaponized against us with military efficiency. These scraps of data, each one harmless enough on its own, are carefully assembled, synthesized, traded and sold. Taken to the extreme this process creates an enduring digital profile and lets companies know you better than you may know yourself. Your profile is a bunch of algorithms that serve up increasingly extreme content, pounding our harmless preferences into harm.“

The conference tackled the many possible ways that people’s digital lives are tracked and assembled. They also debated the ethics of capitalism and big data, and the different types of technological advancements.

According to the report of TechCrunch, Tim Cook presented before an audience and he attempted to draw a line. This is despite of the fact that some of Apple’s products have gathered a huge amount of private digital data.

Tim Cook on Comprehensive Federal Privacy Law

Cook says human values should be protected. He has expressed his support to this advocacy by endorsing “comprehensive federal privacy law”. The Apple CEO also supported the European Union’s newly implemented General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is designed to help people control over to where they share their personal data. In his speech, he added:

“For artificial intelligence to be truly smart it must respect human values – including privacy. If we get this wrong, the dangers are profound. We can achieve both great artificial intelligence and great privacy standards. It is not only a possibility – it is a responsibility.”

Tim Cook’s principles resonate with the Blockchain Industry

This speech shows that Tim Cook is in support of the principles of blockchain developers. He mentioned “the right to have personal data minimized” and he noted that “data belongs to users”. These are the same principles that blockchain developers are prioritizing through building decentralized and transparent systems.

In blockchain, distributed digital ledgers’ data, which are being moved across multiple computers are governed through consensus. Moreover, when decentralized systems use cryptocurrencies to transfer value, they are not determined by central authorities. This means that there is no central authority that can terminate accounts, change rules, or dictate how your personal information, money, or data will be used, stored, revealed, or even sold to the highest bidder.

Tim Cook proposes proper regulation in order to control the issue on corporate and government overreach. It will protect privacy and strengthen public trust in technology.