Apple CEO talks security, encryption with India’s leader

Apple CEO Tim Cook touched on encryption and cybersecurity during a weekend discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The Prime Minister explained his Digital India initiative, and identified three key objectives of Digital India as e-education, health and increasing farmers’ incomes. He sought support from Apple in furthering these objectives,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement on Saturday.

{mosads}“Issues regarding cyber-security and data encryption also came up for discussion. The Prime Minister encouraged Mr. Cook to help the global community to cope with the challenges of cyber-crime.”

Apple has been a corporate leader in fighting government requests in the United States for access to its users’ data. That has made Cook an outspoken advocate for encryption and put him on a collision course with law enforcement officials like FBI Director James Comey.

Cook also talked about Apple’s work to expand its footprint in India.

“He mentioned the immense potential for ‘app-development’ that exists in the country,” the statement said. “He also elaborated on the Map Development Centre that Apple Inc. is setting up in Hyderabad. He appreciated the Prime Minister’s initiatives in ‘ease of doing business.’”

Cook’s visit to the country came at the tail end of a swing through Asia, an increasingly important market for Apple. India is seen a growth market for the sale of smartphones.

Modi is interested in making connections with American tech firms. A visit to Silicon Valley last year gave him a chance to mingle with CEOs and discuss his attempts to expand digital business.

Facebook has notably struggled with one of its Indian efforts. An Indian regulator stopped a program in which it partnered with a local telecom to provide free mobile data for some services on net neutrality grounds this year.