Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down for a brief interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. Cook discussed social reform, as well as the possible return of social platform Parler to the App Store.
Cook told Wallace that Parler could return to the App Store if it begins following Apple’s Terms of Service.
When asked if Apple and other tech companies are restricting free speech, Cook pointed out that the App Store is a private platform that can make its own rules.
“We have an app store that has about 2 million apps in it. And we have terms of services for these apps,” Cook responded.
“We obviously don’t control what’s on the internet, but we’ve never viewed that our platform should be a simple replication of the internet,” Cook continued. “We have rules and regulations, and we just ask that people abide by those.”
Cook also discussed his company’s racial justice initiative. He was asked what inspired Apple to start the program.
“Last year with the murder of George Floyd, it brought an urgency to this,” Cook replied. “We are thrilled to do be able to do our part here, and we hope that more people will follow.”
Projects include the Propel Center. Apple is working with Southern Company and a range of community stakeholders to support the launch of the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind innovation and learning hub for the HBCU community.
Apple is contributing $25 million, which will enable the Propel Center to support HBCU students and faculty through a robust virtual platform, a physical campus in the historic Atlanta University Center, as well as on-campus activations at partner institutions.
Later this year, Apple will open an Apple Developer Academy in Detroit — the first of its kind in the US.
The academy is designed to empower young Black entrepreneurs, creators, and coders, helping them cultivate the skills necessary for jobs in the rapidly growing iOS app economy.
When asked by Wallace what he expects to accomplish with the initiative, Cook responded, “I remember periods of time, Chris, where, whether you were in high school or college or beyond, where you look around and there are only white people around, whether it’s a college or a university or a graduate school or something. It doesn’t feel right.”
“I think it’s the absence of opportunity. It goes back to that,” Cook continued. “And so what we’re trying to do with this program is give people the opportunity.”