Apple’s ‘hypocrisy’
FCC big cries foul on tech giant & China’s rights abuse
A top Federal Communications Commission official slammed Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook for hypocrisy on human rights issues, arguing the iPhone maker’s dealings with the Chinese Communist Party were at odds with its claimed commitment to protecting consumer rights.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr detailed his concerns in a letter that referenced Cook’s recent address at the IAPP Global Privacy Summit 2022 where Cook spoke against the exploitation of technology to infringe on users’ rights.
‘Voice’ silenced
Carr, the FCC’s senior GOP member, said Cook’s “words founder upon the harsh reality of Apple’s conduct in China.”
“Indeed, at the very same time that you were speaking in DC about your App Store policies promoting privacy and human rights, your company was continuing its well-documented campaign in Beijing of aggressively censoring apps at the behest of the Communist Party of China,” Carr wrote.
Apple is one of several major US firms that have faced criticism for expanding operations in China despite concerns that Beijing is committing human rights abuses.
Many of the allegations are tied to the Chinese government’s crackdown on ethnic and religious minorities in the Xinjiang region, where human rights activists have accused Beijing of various abuse.
Apple has repeatedly stated that it has “zero tolerance” for forced labor within its supply chain.
Cook touted Apple’s stance during the April 12 speech, declaring that the firm views privacy as “a fundamental human right.”
Carr said he decided to contact Cook after learning Apple had removed the congressionally funded Voice of America app from its App Store in China — a decision Carr said occurred at the behest of the Chinese government. He pressed Cook to inform the FCC by April 29 whether Apple planned to restore access to Voice of America.
In a statement, Apple said Voice of America was removed from China’s App Store due to local legal requirements with which it must comply.