APPLE'S IPhone VS the FBI...what's right/what's wrong?

In California, Apple is battling a February 16 federal court order to create a new version of its iOS mobile software that will unlock an iPhone 5C used by a terrorist in December's San Bernardino massacre.

Apple says complying with the FBI's request will create a backdoor into the iPhone and set a "dangerous precedent" that exposes all its customers to security risks. The government says this is a one-time request (even though there is a list of a dozen other iPhones it wants unlocked) and argues that getting information from the iPhone is a matter of national security.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and his team must respond to the order by Friday. A hearing to discuss the standoff between Apple and the FBI is set for March 22 in federal court in Riverside, California.

The outcome of the battle may have ripple effects on the rest of the technology industry. If the US can force one of the most powerful companies in the world to essentially make its own devices less secure, the government could do the same to other businesses. The case also raises warning bells for consumers about the potential perils of connecting everything to the Internet at a time when companies are enabling a huge range of items -- from your refrigerator to your shoes -- to talk to the Web.

But when asked about the standoff between Apple and the FBI, the common response of tech execs here at MWC was uncomfortable laughter followed by some variation of: "No way am I saying anything."

Glenn Lurie, CEO of AT&T's consumer mobility business, wouldn't touch the subject. Don Mesa, head of North American marketing for Sony Mobile, said simply: "I can't even fathom."

Katharyn White, who leads IBM's partnership with Apple to create iOS apps for enterprise customers, laughed and shook her head when asked repeated questions about the FBI's and Apple's stances. "We're not commenting," she said. Finbarr Moynihan, general manager of global sales at chipmaker MediaTek, guffawed and said, "Pass." Executives from BlackBerry, ZTE and several other mobile players also declined to comment.

Deep divide
There's no clear victor in the court of public opinion. The Pew Research Center found that 51 percent of those surveyed believe Apple should comply with the court order, while 38 percent said the company shouldn't unlock the iPhone. A later Reuters poll found 46 percent of respondents agreed with Apple's position and 35 percent disagreed.

Many Silicon Valley tech companies -- at least those talking -- have backed Apple and Cook. The CEOs of Facebook and its WhatsApp messaging app have voiced their support, as have the CEOs of Google and Twitter. The American Civil Liberties Union and digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation also support Apple's position. http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-vs-fbi-mobile-world-congress-mwc-no-comment-iphone-san-bernardino/

Fuzzy Zack wrote:Let's monger some fear so the public willingly give away their privacy. Not just to government but even hackers with a black hat agenda.

Fuck no.

aspca4ever wrote:

Fuzzy Zack wrote:Let's monger some fear so the public willingly give away their privacy. Not just to government but even hackers with a black hat agenda.

Fuck no.

You do have a valid point; yet, hackers - doing what they do so well, will always be so many steps ahead of our law enforcement/FBI/CIA/NSA etc., etc., etc., because they are shackled by the very laws that are meant to protect our privacy and freedoms!  

I've admittedly gone back and forth on this issue and if that was my family members phone that was found - and they were missing/found dead/kidnapped/destroyed by 2 lesser thinking humans via their bombs/weapons --- I'd want every stone turned over to FIND THOSE CRETINS and any members that they might have had contact with.

Solving the heinous terrorist acts and finding those that have committed the heinous crimes out weighs my 'uncomfortable' emotional feelings about 'MY PRIVACY' --- IMHO   Who/what do I converse about that would cause me any undo harm/shame/embarrassment that I'd not want the authorities to hear/see?  NADA, I have nothing to hide.

Fuzzy Zack wrote:

aspca4ever wrote:

You do have a valid point; yet, hackers - doing what they do so well, will always be so many steps ahead of our law enforcement/FBI/CIA/NSA etc., etc., etc., because they are shackled by the very laws that are meant to protect our privacy and freedoms!  

I've admittedly gone back and forth on this issue and if that was my family members phone that was found - and they were missing/found dead/kidnapped/destroyed by 2 lesser thinking humans via their bombs/weapons --- I'd want every stone turned over to FIND THOSE CRETINS and any members that they might have had contact with.

Solving the heinous terrorist acts and finding those that have committed the heinous crimes out weighs my 'uncomfortable' emotional feelings about 'MY PRIVACY' --- IMHO   Who/what do I converse about that would cause me any undo harm/shame/embarrassment that I'd not want the authorities to hear/see?  NADA, I have nothing to hide.

Law enforcement agencies dont have to keep ahead of hackers. Tech companies do.

You may not think these agencies may not use certain information against you but it has happened before.

Black hats certainly could find data on most people's data that can be used against them.  

C/Net wrote:The Pew Research Center found that 51 percent of those surveyed believe Apple should comply with the court order, while 38 percent said the company shouldn't unlock the iPhone.

C/Net wrote:Many Silicon Valley tech companies -- at least those talking -- have backed Apple and Cook. The CEOs of Facebook and its WhatsApp messaging app have voiced their support, as have the CEOs of Google and Twitter. The American Civil Liberties Union and digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation also support Apple's position. http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-vs-fbi-mobile-world-congress-mwc-no-comment-iphone-san-bernardino/

As JFK liked to quote from another wise soul :
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance..".

Original Quill wrote:As an aside:  In the bigger picture, I think that people like Edward Norton and Julian Assange are heroes, not withstanding what Dr. Obama says.

Question authority!  Every time we do so, we uncover a Watergate or an abu Grabe or a Dick Cheney.  It can't be bad advice.

Aspca wrote:So how exactly do the people hired to circumvent the terrorists/solve those heinous crimes...supposed be able to utilize the most recent technology available if they can't access those systems???

ABC News wrote:Orenstein said he was offering no opinion on whether in the instance of this case or others, "the government's legitimate interest in ensuring that no door is too strong to resist lawful entry should prevail against the equally legitimate societal interests arrayed against it here."