*By Chloe Aiello* Apple talks a big game on customer privacy ー but that hasn't stopped it from making billions through its partnership with ad-based search engine Google. In an interview with Axios on Sunday, Apple ($AAPL) CEO Tim Cook defended his company's relationship with the world's leading search engine and discussed the potential for regulation in tech, which he considers inevitable. "I think their search engine is the best. Look at what we've done with the controls we've built in. We have private web browsing. We have an intelligent tracker prevention," [Cook said](https://www.axios.com/tim-cook-interview-apple-google-axios-on-hbo-dab905ce-26b4-4450-b177-11ad46d1e13a.html). "It's not a perfect thing. I'd be the very first person to say that. But it goes a long way to helping." Axios' chief technology correspondent Ina Fried said it is not particularly surprising that Cook took the opportunity to emphasize Apple's efforts to protect its users. "Apple talks a lot about how it sells products that customers pay for, whereas Google and Facebook are selling you and your data," Fried told Cheddar on Monday. Cook has been unusually vocal about what he sees as shortcomings in Silicon Valley's handling of user data. [At a conference in Brussels last month,](https://cheddar.com/videos/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerbergs-earnings-candor-might-just-be-a-smart-political-move) Cook took tech rivals to task for using customer data for profit, without naming any company directly. Cook took a similar tone over the weekend when he argued that regulations are likely inevitable for technology companies that have failed to regulate themselves. "I'm a big believer in the free market. But we have to admit when the free market is not working. And it hasn't worked here. I think it's inevitable that there will be some level of regulation," [Cook told Axios.](https://www.axios.com/axios-on-hbo-tim-cook-interview-apple-regulation-6a35ff64-75a3-4e91-986c-f281c0615ac2.html) Despite fielding tough questions about Apple's partnership with Google, Fried said Cook was very much on the offensive. "The product they want to pitch, the thing they want people to know is that they actually have a different stance than the rest of the tech industry, on privacy, on regulation, on some of these issues," she said. "What you are seeing is smart messaging." For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/tim-cook-says-apple-will-embrace-inevitable-data-regulations).

Share:
More In Business
Hard pass, Cold brew, Dad bod: Merriam-Webster adds 5,000 new words
Merriam-Webster has fully revised its popular “Collegiate” dictionary with over 5,000 new words. They include “petrichor,” “dumbphone” and “ghost kitchen.” Also “cold brew,” “rizz,” “dad bod,” “hard pass,” “cancel culture” and more.
Poll: More Americans think companies benefit from legal immigration
A new poll finds U.S. adults are more likely than they were a year ago to think immigrants in the country legally benefit the economy. That comes as President Donald Trump's administration imposes new restrictions targeting legal pathways into the country. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey finds Americans are more likely than they were in March 2024 to say it’s a “major benefit” that people who come to the U.S. legally contribute to the economy and help American companies get the expertise of skilled workers. At the same time, perceptions of illegal immigration haven’t shifted meaningfully. Americans still see fewer benefits from people who come to the U.S. illegally.
Tylenol maker rebounds a day after unfounded claims about its safety
Shares of Tylenol maker Kenvue are bouncing back sharply before the opening bell a day after President Donald Trump promoted unproven and in some cases discredited ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism. Trump told pregnant women not to use the painkiller around a dozen times during the White House news conference Monday. The drugmaker tumbled 7.5%. Shares have regained most of those losses early Tuesday in premarket trading.
Load More