Author Archives: Scalper1

Apple ( AAPL ) CEO Tim Cook on Monday reiterated his concerns about a federal court order that would create a backdoor to bypass the company’s iPhone privacy and security protections. He called for the formation of a government commission or panel to discuss the broader issues involved. “We feel the best way forward would be for the government to withdraw its demands under the All Writs Act and, as some in Congress have proposed, form a commission or other panel of experts on intelligence, technology and civil liberties to discuss the implications for law enforcement, national security, privacy and personal freedoms,” Cook said in an email to employees . “Apple would gladly participate in such an effort.” Last Tuesday, a federal court ordered Apple to create software to hack into an iPhone 5C belonging to one of the shooters in the Dec. 2 attack in San Bernardino, Calif., that left 14 people dead. The FBI wants to see if the password-protected iPhone holds data about possible accomplices and links to Islamist terrorist groups like ISIS. “This case is about much more than a single phone or a single investigation,” Cook said Monday. “At stake is the data security of hundreds of millions of law-abiding people, and setting a dangerous precedent that threatens everyone’s civil liberties.” If the backdoor becomes available, hackers and criminals will try to exploit it, Cook said. It also would create a pathway for U.S. spy agencies and foreign governments to snoop on people’s iPhones. “We use encryption to protect our customers — whose data is under siege,” Cook said. “We work hard to improve security with every software release because the threats are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated all the time.” Apple Faces FBI Deadline This Friday Apple has until this Friday to officially respond to the court order. Last Friday, the Justice Department filed a motion to compel Apple to comply with the court order. The DOJ filing said Apple’s refusal to cooperate is “based on its concern for its business model and public brand marketing strategy.” Apple strongly rejected that assertion. In a question-and-answer posting for customers , Apple said that claim was “absolutely not” true. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” the company said. “This is and always has been about our customers. We feel strongly that if we were to do what the government has asked of us — to create a backdoor to our products — not only is it unlawful, but it puts the vast majority of good and law-abiding citizens, who rely on iPhone to protect their most personal and important data, at risk.” Tech industry and civil liberties groups have voiced support for Apple’s position, while a number of politicians and law enforcement officials have backed the government’s stance. A poll by the Pew Research Center found Americans slightly in favor of the government’s position. Some 51% of respondents said Apple should unlock the iPhone to assist the ongoing FBI investigation. But 38% said Apple should not unlock the phone to ensure the security of its other users’ information. The remaining 11% didn’t have an opinion.