Keeping with Apple’s pledge that Tim Cook would remain involved in Apple’s government relations around the world after stepping down as CEO, he met this week with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Here are the details.
When Apple announced that Tim Cook would step down as CEO on September 1, the company said:
As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.
Since taking up the job of executive chairman, Cook has kept with this promise.
Just days ago, Bloomberg reported that Cook would attend a White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping, which is scheduled for Thursday evening, September 24.
The report came just a few days before Cook posted on X that he had welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Apple Park.
It was great to welcome @AlboMP to Apple Park this morning to talk about the incredible work of our teams and our longstanding commitment to Australia. I was grateful to share some of our newest innovations, including strong and intuitive controls to help keep kids safe online. pic.twitter.com/EQKmIkP3uC
After the meeting, Albanese reportedly shared that Cook described Australia’s social media restrictions for children as “world-leading.”
Yesterday, Cook continued his string of encounters with world leaders, sitting down with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In a post on X, von der Leyen said the two discussed the EU Kids Act and “agreed on the importance of privacy, safety and security for children.”
Good discussion with @tim_cook in the margins of UNGA. We discussed the EU Kids Act, and agreed on the importance of privacy, safety and security for children.Tech companies innovate and bring huge benefits to our society.They must do so in a way that empowers parents and… pic.twitter.com/Ygv2x8893X
This proposed legislation is set to restrict social media access for minors across the EU and require platforms to provide stronger protections for young users.
The meeting happened in Manhattan, where world leaders are currently gathering for the United Nations General Assembly.
It is currently unclear whether Cook will meet or has already met with other world leaders, but if he has, there is a good chance we’ll hear about it from the officials themselves sooner rather than later.
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Marcus Mendes is a Brazilian tech podcaster and journalist who has been closely following Apple since the mid-2000s.
He began covering Apple news in Brazilian media in 2012 and later broadened his focus to the wider tech industry, hosting a daily podcast for seven years.
