“Tim Cook runs the world’s most valuable company. Now he’s making his mark as an outspoken social activist,” Andrea Chang reports for the Los Angeles Times. “The Apple chief executive, 54, penned a sharply worded opinion piece that ran Sunday in which he condemned a slew of ‘pro-discrimination’ legislation pending in several states. The so-called religious objection bills would allow people to legally discriminate against others, such as by citing their personal religious beliefs to refuse service to a customer.”
“‘These bills rationalize injustice,’ Cook said in the 550-word piece in the Washington Post,” Chang reports. “In a big departure from predecessor Steve Jobs and other Silicon Valley CEOs, Cook has increasingly been using his prominent position to shed light on social issues close to his heart. In guest columns and speeches, he has repeatedly denounced racism, discrimination against gays and other instances of inequality.”
“Although Cook has been sharing his personal beliefs, he has also brought Apple into the conversation. In his weekend op-ed, he made clear that he was speaking ‘on behalf of Apple,'” Chang reports. “Cook is forging an unusual path for a tech CEO. Longtime industry watchers note that it can be difficult for business executives to express their views without alienating customers, particularly those who want their iPhones without a side of social justice.”
Read more in the full article here.
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