Microsoft founder Bill gates on Tuesday held his fourth AMA ("Ask Me Anything") on Reddit.
During the session, Gates answered some tough questions like one related to the controversial Apple vs US authorities case.
Gates also recreated a photo taken more than 40 years back and shared it on Twitter to mark the AMA session.
I’m hard at work on my latest @reddit_AMA. Join me now: https://t.co/vbmpSKQMgM pic.twitter.com/Fd8G3yqDQQ
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) March 8, 2016
On the issue of the locked iPhone belonging to one of the dead San Bernardino shooters Gates said:
I think there needs to be a discussion about when the government should be able to gather information. What if we had never had wiretapping? Also the government needs to talk openly about safeguards. Right now a lot of people don't think the government has the right checks to make sure information is only used in criminal situations. So this case will be viewed as the start of a discussion. I think very few people take the extreme view that the government should be blind to financial and communication data but very few people think giving the government carte blanche without safeguards makes sense. A lot of countries like the UK and France are also going through this debate. For tech companies there needs to be some consistency including how governments work with each other. The sooner we modernize the laws the better.
"There is no avoiding this debate and they could contribute to how the balance should be struck," he added.
On another question, human society accomplishing in the next 20 years? What are you most excited for?
I will mention three things.
First is an energy innovation to lower the cost and get rid of green house gases. This isn't guaranteed so we need a lot of public and private risk taking.
Second is progress on disease particularly infectious disease. Polio, Malaria, HIV, TB, etc.. are all diseases we should be able to either eliminate of bring down close to zero. There is amazing science that makes us optimistic this will happen.
Third are tools to help make education better - to help teachers learn how to teach better and to help students learn and understand why they should learn and reinforce their confidence.
Are there any purchases that you are adamant about being frugal over? That one thing you just won’t spend much money on?
I think people's spending instincts are set when they are in high school. I don't like spending a lot of money on clothes or jewelry (for me - I do like to buy nice things for my wife).
You can read the whole session here.