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Congress may need to pass legislation resolving the government’s dispute with Apple ( AAPL ) and other high-tech companies over smartphone encryption, national security and privacy, a Verizon Communications ( VZ ) executive VP said at a Jefferies financial conference on Wednesday. Apple has been battling the FBI over unlocking an encrypted iPhone used by by one of the shooters in a Dec. 2 attack in San Bernardino, Calif., that left 14 people dead. Apple has been fighting a federal court order to create software to hack into the iPhone. Facebook ( FB ) and other high-tech companies have sided with Apple. Asked about the controversy at a Jefferies media and communications conference, Verizon Wireless executive VP of wireless operations David Small said: “It’s a tough issue. Verizon has equal opinions and strength around customer privacy as well as safeguarding public safety.” “The Apple case is a little unique. This is an issue where you see a lot of friction at a very high level and in that regard generally you need some sort of Congressional action to resolve some of those frictions.” AT&T ( T ) chief executive Randall Stephenson in a recent interview also said Congress should determine U.S. policies regarding encryption rather than tech companies. Stephenson commented before the court ruling vs. Apple. Apple will reportedly argue in a court appeal that its software should be protected under the First Amendment as free speech. Small, meanwhile, said it’s unclear whether there will be a stronger upgrade cycle among Verizon wireless subscribers to new iPhones in late 2016. Upgrades to the iPhone 6S series last year disappointed Apple investors. Apple is expected to release the iPhone 7 in September. “I can’t comment on exactly what Apple is planning to launch,” Small said. “This is an even year (2016) so I would expect a more significant form factor.” Scalper1 News
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