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Apple ( AAPL ) has attracted some powerful friends to support its fight against a federal court order to break its smartphone security for a criminal investigation. Facebook ( FB ), Alphabet ( GOOGL )-owned Google, Microsoft ( MSFT ) and about a dozen more Internet companies will file a joint legal brief Thursday asking a judge to rescind her order in the case, Reuters reported . The tech companies will outline their support for Apple’s position in an amicus brief to U.S. Magistrate Sheri Pym, Reuters said . On Feb. 16, Pym ordered Apple to provide “reasonable technical assistance” to the FBI to unlock an iPhone belonging to Syed Farook, one of the killers in the San Bernardino, Calif., shootings on Dec. 2. Apple has protested the ruling, saying that it would create a “back door” to bypass its security protections and thus threaten the personal data of millions of iPhone users. Once available, the vulnerability could be exploited by cybercriminals, hackers and both foreign and domestic spies. Privacy advocacy groups Access Now, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Wickr Foundation filed briefs on Wednesday in support of Apple, Reuters said. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that the court order sets a dangerous precedent. It would have Apple become an agent of the federal government, which would force Apple to write special software to crack its own privacy protections, he said. On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the iPhone case and smartphone encryption. Members of the congressional panel were split over supporting personal privacy vs. national security. RELATED: Apple-FBI Encryption Battle, Facebook Arrest Flash At RSA Federal Judge Sides With Apple In iPhone Encryption Case . Scalper1 News
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