Apple Agrees To iPhone Inspection In China

Apple has agreed to comply with Chinese demands for a full security inspection of its products, prompted by concerns of 'backdoor' surveillance.

According to reports in the Beijing News, chief executive Tim Cook agreed that China's State Internet Information Office could run security audits on the iPhone, iPad and Mac.

All of Apple's devices are manufactured in China but the hardware and software is designed in California, US.

The director of the state department, Lu Wei, reportedly told Apple CEO that China was one of the biggest markets for the company, but that inspection of products to ensure national security was essential, according to The Telegraph.

"There were rumors of us keeping backdoors and providing data to third parties. We have never had any backdoors and never will," Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly said.

 "Your products must pass the inspections done by our network safety officers. We have to then make conclusions and insure our customers," replied Wei.