Apple CEO Tim Cook looks to put down rivals Facebook and Google at the White House Cybersecurity Summit.

Tim Cook spoke up on Friday, Feb. 13 about the importance of preserving online privacy at the White House Cybersecurity Summit. Cook laid emphasis on preserving online privacy as we are in an era where stealing vital information has become easier than ever.

He also made some veiled but cheeky blows at companies like Google and Facebook for selling user data, which he says is a gross abuse of privacy.

Talking about Apple's privacy policies, Cook said, "We have a straightforward business model that's based on selling the best products and services in the world, not on selling your data," He added, "We don't sell advertisers any information from your email content, from your messages, or your web browsing history."

Many well-known tech giants have been blamed for selling user information; however Cook did not name any companies who might differ from Apple's securities policies.

According to reports from NatMonitor, President Barack Obama attended The Summit held at Stanford University. Cook's speech was also addressed to many other attending U.S. policy makers, as a reminder that the protection of privacy must also be thought-through in the government's digital surveillance campaigns.

Cook said, "History has shown us that sacrificing our right to privacy can have dire consequences. Too many people do not feel free to practice their religion or express their opinion or love who they choose."

"We still live in a world where all people are not treated equally," he said, "where too many people do not feel free to practice their religion or express their opinion or love who they choose, a world in which that information can make the difference between life or death," Cook added.

TheRegister reports that President Barack Obama has backed Apple Pay, Cupertino's new payment system after the Apple chief was given a 15-minute long ad spot at the White House on Feb. 13.

TheRegister further adds, that the endorsement implies the government will accept Apple Pay transactions for citizens who have federal-payment cards and are, for example, claiming social security benefits.

In a brief note on its cyber security and consumer protection fact sheet, the White House said:

"Apple, Visa, MasterCard, Comerica Bank and U.S. Bank are committed to working together to make Apple Pay, a tokenized, encrypted service, available for users of federal payment cards, including DirectExpress and GSA SmartPay cards."

Cook, who was the first CEO of a major tech company to publically come out as gay, has been an advocate in the fight in his home state of Alabama to practice equal rights for individuals who identify as gay, lesbian or transgender.

"We live in a world in which [sensitive] information can make the difference between life and death," he said. "If those of us in positions of responsibility fail to do everything in our power to protect the right of privacy, we risk something far more valuable than money - we risk our way of life."

Despite the threats to personal privacy, Cook affirmed that he believes technology can be used as a tool to avoid those risks. He added, "It is my sincere hope that by using them and by working together we will do so."