Tim Cook defends encryption and knocks U.S. government at Apple event

Apple chief executive Tim Cook opened his product introduction event this morning with a reminder to the U.S. government that he’s not budging on privacy.

The words were a reminder of Apple’s legal struggle with the FBI over the government’s attempt to force Apple to break the encryption that protects the iPhone that belonged to one of the San Bernardino mass shooters. Apple and the FBI are expected to square off in court over the issue tomorrow in federal court.

“We built the iPhone for you,” Cook said at the outset. “We know this is a deeply personal device. It’s an extension of ourselves.”

He noted that Apple asked Americans a month ago to help “decide as a nation how much power the government should have over our data and over our privacy.”

Cook added, “I’ve been humbled and deeply grateful for the outpouring of support. We have a responsibility to help you protect your data and your privacy. We owe it to our customers and we owe it to our country. This is an issue that impacts all of us, and we will not shrink from this responsibility.”

Cook got a big round of applause from those in the room.