Despite Tim Cook's stance on user privacy, Apple is allegedly turning a blind eye to the same issue in China. The protection of user data has always required the treading of a fine line and especially when it comes to balancing new features against the likelihood of leaks and vulnerabilities. However, Apple and Cook have always maintained that the company takes security seriously, but the same might not be as true in China.

Apple recently pushed for the inclusion of Privacy Labels in the App Store, with the new feature highlighting how apps access and handle user information. Implementing it was a pain for the company, however. Even if it is a win for consumers across the board, Facebook and others were less happy with the changes, creating somewhat of a feud between Apple and Facebook. Outside of Privacy Labels, Cook recently went public about the desire to regulate how big tech companies handle user privacy. The Apple CEO was quoted saying, "The individual should own their data. And they should own the ability to say who gets it and what of their data they get and what they use it for."

Related: Sorry, Facebook — iPhone & iPad Users Love Apple's App Tracking Transparency

In China, Apple might be doing the opposite of what Tim Cook claimed, though. According to a New York Times investigation, the company is storing Chinese user information in a facility that's easily accessible by the Chinese government. As part of what it calls the "Golden Gate" project, the Apple facility, co-owned with Chinese company Guizhou-Cloud Big Data, reportedly owns the encryption keys needed to access the data. The joint ownership supposedly allows Apple to skirt American legalities (American companies can't provide user information to foreign governments) and court the Chinese government. For example, the claims suggest China could easily requisition information from the facility, if it perceives a threat to national security.

Apple Appeasing China At The Expense Of Users?

Perhaps second only to its home country, Apple relies heavily on China as a business partner, considering the country assembles most of the company's products. To say that Apple can't live without China is an understatement. However, relying on China also includes living by the laws that it enforces. Part of those laws include app regulation and information gathering. In this sense, Apple is faced with a decision to either follow China's lead or abandon the country. According to the allegations, Apple chose the former, despite opposing statements from the company. Besides building a facility accessible to the government, the company also reportedly allows China to dictate which apps should be taken down from the Chinese App Store. It has already been noted removing swarms of apps in the past, owing largely to a lack of licenses. However, the report suggests the problem could be even greater than first thought.

Now, the important question: should users elsewhere also worry about the same happening to them? Firstly, allegations are just allegations. Then again, governments, including the United States, have already done things in the past to acquire Apple's data with or without the company's permission. If anything, this latest report succinctly reveals that, with the right motivation and price, striking a balance between what's good for users and governments becomes all the more harder, even for Apple.

Next: Apple Rejecting Apps To Protect User Privacy

Source: NYT