On Tuesday evening, a federal court ordered Apple to help the F.B.I. unlock an iPhone used by one of the attackers who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California. The following morning, Apple wrote a letter denying the court’s request.
After Apple’s letter was published, legal experts have been investigating what the company can and cannot do to help the government.
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The F.B.I wants to examine the iPhone used by Syed Farook in order to determine whether he and his wife had planned the shooting with ISIS. In order to do so, Apple would have to build a new version of its iOS software that will allow the F.B.I. to surpass certain restrictions.
More specifically, the court is ordering the company to disable a feature that wipes an iPhone of all its data after 10 incorrect password attempts. It would allow the government to try an unlimited number of passwords without fear of the phone erasing all of its data.
Apple states that this software can give someone “the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.” And also claims that the software the F.B.I. is asking for does not exist. But technologists working on the case declare otherwise.
Apple is also worried about being force to work in compliance with the government for future requests. Creating a new code would have an effect beyond unlocking just one phone. If Apple decides to help the F.B.I. in this case, courts could use this software in future investigations. It is also easier for hackers to steal the software from the company’s servers.
There are other ways for law enforcement agencies to collect evidence like they have in previous cases. They have the ability to retrieve data stored on iCloud and Google’s Gmail through search warrants. And they can get records of phone calls and text messages from cell phone companies. So why they are asking for yet another way to gain easier access to private accounts just doesn’t add up.
Even though the operating system could ease the job of law enforcement, it would make private citizens, businesses and the government itself far less secure.
Apple will more than likely file an appeal with the court within the upcoming days.
