Google CEO tweets support for Apple's stance in encryption debate

Google CEO Sundar Pichai, in a string of tweets this afternoon, has weighed in on the lengthy message Apple CEO Tim Cook penned to customers and the U.S. government — and, frankly, the world — regarding encryption on personal devices.

Cook was responding to a federal judge's order directing Apple to help the FBI unlock an iPhone used by one of the shooters in December's massacre in San Bernardino, Calif. "The United States government has demanded that Apple take an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers," the open letter begins. "We oppose this order, which has implications far beyond the legal case at hand." (You can read Cook's full letter here.#mn_e)

Much of the day went by with many wondering if Apple would be standing alone in this debate. Later in the day, Google's Pichai, in a string of five tweets, finally broke that silence.

Google has previously voiced displeasure with pressure from governments (foreign and domestic) requesting data that it holds on customers, and as Pichai states the company works hard to keep everything it stores safe. Though the data Google stores isn't directly influenced by the situation Apple is currently in, Pichai understands that the sentiment has wide-reaching implications for companies that are trusted with customer's personal data.