San Bernardino Victim’s Husband Sides With Apple In Encryption Debate

Earlier last month, Apple was ordered by the court to unlock the iPhone belonging to one of the terrorists in the San Bernardino shootings. Apple has since refused which has led to a huge debate as to whether or not Apple should comply, despite the arguments that by doing so, it will set a dangerous precedent for the future.

Many tech companies have unsurprisingly taken Apple’s side, and interestingly enough it seems that the husband of one of the victims of the shootings has also sided with Apple. In a letter obtained by BuzzFeed News, the husband of the victim (who survived despite being shot three times), Salihin Kondoker, wrote to Judge Sheri Pym in which he voiced his support over Apple’s decision.

According to him, “In my opinion it is unlikely there is any valuable information on this phone.” This is because the shooter’s iPhone, just like that of his wife, was issued by the county and he believed it was not used for personal communications. Because of that, he does not believe that anyone, including the terrorists, would store vital information on a device that could be easily accessed by the County.

“Why then would someone store vital contacts related to an attack on a phone they knew the county had access to? They destroyed their personal phones after the attack. And I believe they did that for a reason.” He also said that while he was initially frustrated by Apple’s decision at the start, the more he learnt about the case, the more he understood what they were fighting for.

“When I first learned Apple was opposing the order I was frustrated that it would be yet another roadblock. But as I read more about their case, I have come to understand their fight is for something much bigger than one phone. I support Apple and the decision they have made.” In the meantime over in New York, a judge has ruled in favor of Apple about not having to unlock the iPhone. While this is a completely different case, Apple’s win will not doubt be a useful precedent they could use in their ongoing debate.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple, Cellphones
Tags: iPhone, Legal, Privacy, Security