The new policy notes that where “national law and international human rights standards differ, we follow the higher standard... Where they are in conflict, we respect national law while seeking to respect the principles of internationally recognized human rights.”
Human rights advocate, Sondhya Gupta, campaign manager at nonprofit consumer advocacy group SumOfUs, praised the new policy as “…a breakthrough moment” and as an important first step. However, concerns linger. Apple has faced criticism for complying with China’s insistence that it ban apps that the government does not want and allegations that it helped the government there to censor and conduct surveillance of its citizens.
Gupta said “we still have questions about how the policy will be implemented and what oversight there will be.”