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Apple's Fight With US Over Privacy Enters a New Round (bloomberg.com)
An anonymous reader shares a report on Bloomberg: Apple Inc.'s fight over privacy with the U.S. isn't over yet, even after the government dropped a demand for the company's help in accessing a California shooter's iPhone because someone else found a way to crack it. The U.S. said it'll keep fighting to get the company's help in getting data off a phone in Brooklyn, New York, that belonged to a drug dealer because Apple provided assistance in accessing such devices earlier. In a court filing Friday, the government said it's going ahead with an appeal of a judge's order denying its request for Apple's help. The battle between the world's most valuable tech company and the U.S. over encryption and data privacy has sparked a national debate, with dozens of companies and organizations siding with Apple, while law enforcement has generally taken the government's side.
Apple provided assistance in accessing such devices earlier.
this took place largely through secret FISA court orders and wasnt a huge problem until the FBI pulled the wig off the fat lady. Apple would love to continue secretly unlocking phones, but its no longer an option when americas darling tech company has been directly implicated in bed with the US intelligence community. the biggest threat to the cloud based sharing model of internetworked gadgets and services that companies like Apple offer is the inability to keep the devices secure and away from prying eyes. It doesnt matter how many surveys come out declaring $countrymen dont care about privacy, the proof is in the pudding. Apple understands losing this mark of privacy could mean the death of the brands top sellers.
the government said it's going ahead with an appeal of a judge's order denying its request for Apple's help.
thats fine. thats how bureaucracy and legal processes work. this is a win for everyone because it didnt happen in a secret court.
The battle between the world's most valuable tech company and the U.S. over encryption and data privacy has sparked a national debate
theres no debate. the government wanted apple to cave in and erode the first amendment by unlocking a dead mans phone to prove a case that was already solved. this effort was very transparent to anyone paying even cursory attention. Apple fought back with a powerful attorney and in order to avoid setting a precedent for losing a first amendment case, the government pulled the legislative equivalent of a teenager scoffing and mumbling what-ever under her breath.
with dozens of companies and organizations siding with Apple
correction, with google pussy-footing in under pressure and other companies wringing their hands like spinsters at a bar fight. the only real opposition other than Apple was the FSF.
there is no new round. Whatever chicanery the government used to crack the phone has now been its own killing blow. Apple will do as the borg, and in a few iterations of IOS you'll soon see a phone that is not only unsucceptable to the present exploit, but cannot become succeptable to third party intervention without the sand of brute force time.
Good people go to bed earlier.
Why do we never hear stories about Google fighting the FBI to protect Android users' privacy and right to encryption? Is it because Google is complacent with the government, or is it because Android phones are so easy to crack that the FBI doesn't even bother to ask?
actually, the State does. It is law in many countries. It is also law in the USA if a 'National Security' issue is at stake. Literally federal marshalls can come in and sit behind you at your desk with guns at your head and 'make' you perform... Shoot you if you do not.
You may want to look it up.