Security News > 2023 > March > China urges Apple to improve security and privacy

Senior Chinese government officials have urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to improve the security and privacy features of his company's products.
"Director Zheng Shanjie said that the Chinese government will unswervingly implement the basic national policy of opening to the outside world, and the National Development and Reform Commission will continue to support foreign-funded enterprises including Apple in their business in China," the post states.
"I hope that Apple will continue to actively undertake corporate social responsibilities and strengthen data security and personal privacy protection."
Apple is keenly aware of China's importance to its business.
In its most recent annual financial results [PDF] the iBiz reported $74.2 billion - almost 19 percent of its $394 billion annual revenue - was won in Greater China.
The Development and Reform Commission didn't specify how it wants Apple to strengthen its privacy and security tools, but the comments aimed at Apple may have been a reference to China's recently strengthened data security law that bolsters the regulatory requirements for export of data describing Chinese citizens.
News URL
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/03/29/china_asks_apple_improve_security/
Related news
- More telcos confirm China Salt Typhoon security breaches as White House weighs in (source)
- Apple to Pay Siri Users $20 Per Device in Settlement Over Accidental Siri Privacy Violations (source)
- Apple offers $95 million in Siri privacy violation settlement (source)
- European Privacy Group Sues TikTok and AliExpress for Illicit Data Transfers to China (source)
- How to use Apple’s App Privacy Report to monitor data tracking (source)
- Apple plugs security hole in its iThings that's already been exploited in iOS (source)
- Canvassing apps used by UK political parties riddled with privacy, security issues (source)
- iOS 18 settings to lock down your privacy and security (source)