There is currently a petition going around that wants the White House to step in and stop the efforts by the legal authorities from forcing Apple to unlock the iPhone. So far it has a little over 5,000 signatures and is a far cry from the 100,000 it needs before it is even considered, which means that chances are of the White House stepping in anytime soon are slim.
Unfortunately the pressure on Apple to comply has just gone up as the US Department of Justice has recently filed a motion to compel Apple to unlock the iPhone which belongs to one of the terrorists that took part in the San Bernardino shootings. In fact in the motion that was filed, the DOJ goes as far as saying that Apple’s refusal to comply is a mere PR stunt.
It reads, “Apple’s current refusal to comply with the Court’s Order, despite the technical feasibility of doing so, instead appears to be based on concern for its business model and brand marketing strategy.” We suppose to be fair, Apple’s refusal has generated a lot of buzz for the company, but at the same time it also brings up an important debate with regards to encryption.
For those unfamiliar, the FBI’s request for Apple to create a backdoor to allow them access is a dangerous precedent. While they claim it is a one-time use, if the precedent is set, it will allow them to ask for it again in the future, with each time making it harder for Apple to say no. It will also allow them to ask other tech companies for similar setups.
While their intentions are good, no doubt, a backdoor for the good guys also means that there would now be a backdoor that the bad guys can find and access, and we know that they probably won’t have your best intentions at heart.
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