Apple and the United States government are teaming up on mobile payments, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook, and the government will begin accepting Apple pay for a number of transactions in the near future starting with admission fees to national parks. During the announcement, Cook also made a jab at Google’s own mobile payments service.
Speaking at the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection on Friday, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook revealed that the U.S. government plans to begin accepting Apple Pay for a number of transactions, starting with admission to U.S. national parks. Cook’s speech was a not-so-thinly veiled critique of competitors such as Google, who make money off of advertising to users and collecting their personal information to allow for more targeted ads. But Cook portrayed Apple as a company that’s focused on selling great products, “not on selling your personal data.” “We believe everyone has a right to privacy and security, and that is why I stand before you today,” the Apple CEO said.