Apple’s Products to Undergo ‘Security Inspection’ by China

The state-run Beijing News has reported a meeting between Apple CEO and the director of China’s Internet Information Office, where Apple CEO agreed to have the Chinese regime subject its products to an Internet security evaluation.

In this Sept. 19, 2014 file photo, a customer shows off the new Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File

In a move to gain better access to the tech market in China, Apple has agreed to offer its line of products for Internet security evaluation by the Chinese regime, reported the state-run Beijing News on Jan. 21.

Negotiations between Apple CEO Tim Cook and Lu Wei, the director of the China’s Internet Information Office, which is in charge of censoring the Internet, took place in December last year in the United States. Apple wanted to increase the sale of iPhones, iPads, and Macs in China, while China said it wanted a guarantee from Apple that users’ information and privacy can be protected, and national security would not be compromised.

According to the Beijing News, the following dialogue took place.

“The speculation that we would provide third parties backdoors to access to users’ information is completely false,” Cook said. “We never did and we will never do such a thing.”

Apple CEO Tim Cook and Lu Wei, director of China's Internet Information Office, shaking hands in a meeting in December last year Weibo.com/Caijing