Tim Cook, in his new role as Executive Chairman of Apple, addressed the United Nations General Assembly to discuss child online safety. Since stepping down as CEO in September, Cook has focused on government relations and external affairs, representing Apple in international policy dialogues.
During the discussions, Cook emphasized that protecting children does not require compromising user privacy. Apple advocates for a strategy centered on on-device processing, robust parental controls, and minimizing the collection of sensitive data by platforms, rather than relying on centralized age verification systems.
The debate over child safety is gaining global momentum, with Australia recently implementing restrictions on social media access for children under 16. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously met with Cook to discuss these regulatory measures and Apple’s existing parental control tools.
Apple continues to integrate safety features into its ecosystem, including screen time management and communication safety tools that detect sensitive content locally on the device. The company maintains that these design choices allow for child protection without necessitating the mass collection of biometric or identity data.
The company remains cautious regarding legislative proposals that mandate strict age verification. During 2025 discussions with U.S. lawmakers, Apple expressed concerns that such requirements could force companies to gather excessive personal information, arguing instead for a model where parents retain control over data sharing.
