Elain Brown Tech 08.30.2022 22:Aug PM EDT

Apple’s Privacy Chief Officer Jane Horvath Departs the Company—But Why?

One of Apple's most significant executives is going to be leaving the company soon.

Jane Horvath, Apple's Chief Privacy Officer, has made the decision to quit the company in order to start a new career at a legal firm based in the Los Angeles area.

Horvath is credited with leading Apple's Privacy, Policy, and Regulatory division after joining the company in 2011.

The executive's role within the company has been significantly more crucial due to the fact that privacy has become one of Apple's top priorities

During her time at Apple, she was responsible for managing legal concerns at the technology company, advising on new product features, and advocating for robust privacy rights.

Jane Horvath's Contribution in Apple

Apple's Jane Horvath was one of the few executives that held the title of "chief officer." According to 9To5Mac, the former executive might be a familiar face to some since she represented Apple during a dispute between Apple and the FBI.

This dispute was about the FBI's request to unlock an iPhone connected to the shooting in San Bernardino. The executive was also directly involved in the negotiation process with both Capitol Hill and trade groups.

In addition to that, she held a key role in making sure Apple complies with national and international privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union (GDPR).

She has recently worked on Apple's new privacy regulations that limit web and in-app monitoring on iOS and macOS in the past few years.

Jane Horvath's Career

Apple's privacy chief officer informed her departure in the company's legal department in an internal memo.

Horvath leaves Apple as it accepts a position at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, a law firm that has successfully defended Apple in a number of cases, including the conflict with Epic Games.

Horvath is going to be working in the law firm from this point forward. Over the course of his career, Horvath has spent more than a decade employed by Apple.

During the time that she served as Apple's Chief Privacy Officer, Horvath gave several public presentations on behalf of the company on the topic of privacy.

These presentations took place at events such as the 15th annual Computers, Privacy & Data Protection (CPDP) conference in Brussels which she chaired and the CES event in 2020.

During the same month, she participated in an interview in which she discussed a variety of topics, ranging from her first job at Baskin-Robbins to her most recent role in Apple, and shared secure data practices.

Hovarth started her professional life as a programmer with a degree in computer science. She also worked at the United States Department of Justice and Google for several years before she joined Apple in 2011.

Apple's Newest Privacy Officer

Apple has not yet issued a confirmation or announcement regarding this departure and has not yet disclosed any information on who would succeed Horvath. Apple has not yet made a decision regarding who will take her place.

According to MacRumors, "Apple has been dealing with major potential privacy issues as of late, and is facing legislation that would weaken the protections the App Store offers the iPhone in multiple countries."

Additionally, Apple is also addressing the requests for the sideloading of its applications from both the Digital Markets Act in Europe and is also being considered by the U.S. legislation.