GETTY Lisa Jackson (left) bragged of Apple customer detail handovers

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Wikileaks has published an email from Apple executive Lisa Jackson to John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign manager, in which she praised the high level of customer information that the company regularly discloses, and appeared to show a cozy relationship with Camp Clinton. But she insisted it was only when the firm was legally required to and in response to court warrants or legal action. Mrs Jackson has publicly endorsed the Clinton campaign and is also on the board of directors of the Clinton Foundation. She said: "Please know that Apple will continue its work with law enforcement. "We share law enforcement’s concerns about the threat to citizens and we work closely with authorities to comply with legal requests for data that have helped solve complex crimes.

GETTY Wikileaks, led by Julian Assange, has released thousands of emails from Camp Clinton

"Thousands of times every month, we give governments information about Apple customers and devices, in response to warrants and other forms of legal process. "We have a team that responds to those requests 24 hours a day." She explained how strong encryption did not prevent the firm handing over useful data to government departments. She added: "Strong encryption does not eliminate Apple’s ability to give law enforcement meta-data or any of a number of other very useful categories of data." The email was sent on December 20 2015, as Apple was preparing its public opposition to the UK Investigatory Powers Bill, which required it to maintain keys to encrypted devices and certain online messenger services. It came the night after Hillary Clinton gave a speech on technology and encryption.

Thousands of times every month, we give governments information about Apple customers and devices, in response to warrants and other forms of legal process. We have a team that responds to those requests 24 hours a day. Lisa Jackson

The email added: "I wanted to reach out to say thanks for the principled and nuanced stance the secretary took last night on encryption and the tech sector. "Leadership at Apple certainly noticed and I am sure that is true though out the Valley." She also appeared to play down the tax probes in the UK and across the EU into Apple and other US giants, adding that Apple CEO Tim Cook would appear on US current affairs show 60 Minutes that evening. She said: "We expect encryption and taxes to be covered. In previews, Tim reacts strongly to the EU tax investigation of Apple and other American companies. "We will amplify encryption messaging tomorrow when we publicly release our comments on the draft UK Investigatory Powers bill." Chance Miller, a US based technology commentator said the boasts "may seem a little jarring to Apple customers." He said: "Even with encryption, Apple devices still have some juicy morsels for law enforcement "What’s interesting to note here is that Jackson’s tone in the email is far different than the tone Apple takes publicly.

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