As the debate between Washington and Silicon Valley over encryption heats up, Apple CEO Tim Cook is poised to enter the fray.
Cook is scheduled to speak Friday at the White House cybersecurity summit at Stanford University, The Hill reported. Cook will address an audience of tech executives, academics and government officials gathered to hash out how business and government can come together to step up cybersecurity. The White House is expected to use the conference to unveil its next executive action on cybersecurity, according to The Hill.
Long indifferent to the political sphere, Apple s relationship with Washington has grown more nuanced in recent years. The company has stepped up its lobbying efforts in Washington as it prepares to release new gadgets and services that will draw more scrutiny from the government, as Bloomberg reported.
With its iOS 8 software release, Apple began encrypting all information on iPhones with users passcodes, meaning that the company cannot unlock devices even for government officials who come armed with a warrant. The enhanced encryption triggered an outcry from law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which argued the move would hinder its ability to solve cases. Cook will be joined at the White House summit this week by FBI Assistant Director Joe Demarest Jr., The Hill reported.
It s been a busy week for Cook, who is also delivering a keynote address at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference on Tuesday.
Above: Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to speak at a White House cybersecurity summit (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images).
