Apple CEO Tim Cook Worried About Misinformation, Extremist Activities On Social Media

Fueling the ongoing battle of accusations between Apple and Facebook, the former¡¯s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook on Thursday criticised social media for being a prominent platform for polarisation and misinformation.

Apple CEO Tim Cook (Image: Reuters)

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Speaking at the Computers, Privacy and Data Protection conference, Cook criticised apps that collect too much personal information of their users. In addition, Cook critiqued the apps that prioritise "conspiracy theories and violent incitement simply because of their high rates of engagement," a report by Reuters mentions.

"At a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theories juiced by algorithms, we can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement ¡ª the longer the better ¡ª and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible," Tim Cook said.

Tim Cook did not specifically name Facebook in this regard. The world¡¯s largest social media network, however, is known to collect the most personal data from its users as compared to other digital services.

That, coupled with the fact that Facebook and Apple are in the midst of ongoing dispute around the latter¡¯s upcoming policy changes for iPhone users, only hint that Cook meant to point his remarks at Facebook.

The Apple CEO criticised social media practices that result in the spread of misinformation or extremist activities. An undermined public trust in vaccines as well as the organised US capitol attack earlier this month are a shining example of the same.

"It is long past time to stop pretending that this approach doesn't come with a cost ¡ª of polarisation, of lost trust and, yes, of violence," Cook said. "A social dilemma cannot be allowed to become a social catastrophe."

Fueling the feud

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Image: Reuters)

The feud between Apple and Facebook began when Apple hinted at its privacy policy changes that will allow Apple users to decline to allow the use of ad-targeting tools. While it promises to elevate privacy levels for the users, the practice is being believed to have a drastic effect on the digital advertising industry.

Facebook, in the midst, accused Apple of anti-competitive conduct with the changes. It said that while all other digital services, including Facebook, will take a toll, Apple¡¯s own growing catalogue of paid apps and digital advertising business will flourish. Facebook even released full-page newspaper ads against the company¡¯s upcoming decision earlier in December.

On Wednesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Apple has "every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work." Facebook maintained that the policy will take a toll on app developers and small businesses.