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Police Unlikely To Win Wider Access To Smartphones Despite FBI Success In San Bernardino Case (latimes.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the there's-always-next-time dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Los Angeles Times: The successful hack of a phone linked to the San Bernardino terror attacks is unlikely to help police win greater access to encrypted data contained inside thousands of smartphones sitting in evidence lockers nationwide, legal experts and law enforcement officials said Tuesday. The process used to gain access to Syed Rizwan Farook's iPhone 5c might not work on other devices, according to an FBI official with knowledge of the investigation. Though the FBI might want to use the new tool to help solve outstanding criminal cases, doing so would also make the process subject to discovery during criminal trials and place the information in the public domain, according to the official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on the condition of anonymity. "From all the chiefs that I've talked to, we're hopeful this will give us some insight into how we're going to be able to get into some of the phones sitting in all of our evidence rooms," said Terry Cunningham, police chief in Wellesley, Mass., and president of the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police. "We're clearly anxious to learn what they did and how they did it and if it can be replicated."

4 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Unless used in warrantless surveillance by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Though the FBI might want to use the new tool to help solve outstanding criminal cases, doing so would also make the process subject to discovery during criminal trials

    Only if the use is admitted in court. They can use it in warrantless surveillance without a problem.

    1. Re:Unless used in warrantless surveillance by TWX · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's the whole point of parallel construction, it's a method to legitimize their actions. Good luck proving it though, and even if you do successfully demonstrate it, good luck proving its extent sufficient to avoid prosecution.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  2. What an insight! by bickerdyke · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Though the FBI might want to use the new tool to help solve outstanding criminal cases, doing so would also make the process subject to discovery during criminal trials and place the information in the public domain

    Yes, if such a tool exists, details on this process eventually will become public.

    Which exactly was Apple's point.

    All. The. Time.

    --
    bickerdyke
  3. Propaganda machine in full swing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow, two articles in one day claiming a victory in the case they withdrew. Seems the propaganda machine is in full swing.