From Apple...
Yes, it is certainly possible to create an entirely new operating system to
undermine our security features as the government wants. But it’s something
we believe is too dangerous to do. The only way to guarantee that such a
powerful tool isn’t abused and doesn’t fall into the wrong hands is to never
create it.
Could Apple build this operating
system just once, for this iPhone, and
never use it again?
The digital world is very different from the physical world. In the physical
world you can destroy something and it’s gone. But in the digital world, the
technique, once created, could be used over and over again, on any number
of devices.
Law enforcement agents around the country have already said they have
hundreds of iPhones they want Apple to unlock if the FBI wins this case. In the
physical world, it would be the equivalent of a master key, capable of opening
hundreds of millions of locks. Of course, Apple would do our best to protect
that key, but in a world where all of our data is under constant threat, it would
be relentlessly attacked by hackers and cybercriminals. As recent attacks on
the IRS systems and countless other data breaches have shown, no one is
immune to cyberattacks.
Again, we strongly believe the only way to guarantee that such a powerful
tool isn’t abused and doesn’t fall into the wrong hands is to never create it.
Has Apple unlocked iPhones for law
enforcement in the past?
No.
We regularly receive law enforcement requests for information about our
customers and their Apple devices. In fact, we have a dedicated team that
responds to these requests 24/7. We also provide guidelines on our website
for law enforcement agencies so they know exactly what we are able to
access and what legal authority we need to see before we can help them.
For devices running the iPhone operating systems prior to iOS 8 and under a
lawful court order, we have extracted data from an iPhone.
We’ve built progressively stronger protections into our products with each
new software release, including passcode-based data encryption, because
cyberattacks have only become more frequent and more sophisticated. As a
result of these stronger protections that require data encryption, we are no
longer able to use the data extraction process on an iPhone running iOS 8
or later.
Hackers and cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to defeat our
security, which is why we keep making it stronger.
The government says your objection
appears to be based on concern for
your business model and marketing
strategy. Is that true?
Absolutely not. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is and always has
been about our customers. We feel strongly that if we were to do what the
government has asked of us — to create a backdoor to our products — not
only is it unlawful, but it puts the vast majority of good and law abiding
citizens, who rely on iPhone to protect their most personal and important
data, at risk.
Is there any other way you can help
the FBI?
We have done everything that’s both within our power and within the law to
help in this case. As we’ve said, we have no sympathy for terrorists.
We provided all the information about the phone that we possessed. We also
proactively offered advice on obtaining additional information. Even since the
government’s order was issued, we are providing further suggestions after
learning new information from the Justice Department’s filings.
One of the strongest suggestions we offered was that they pair the phone to
a previously joined network, which would allow them to back up the phone
and get the data they are now asking for. Unfortunately, we learned that while
the attacker’s iPhone was in FBI custody the Apple ID password associated
with the phone was changed. Changing this password meant the phone
could no longer access iCloud services.
As the government has confirmed, we’ve handed over all the data we have,
including a backup of the iPhone in question. But now they have asked us for
information we simply do not have.
What should happen from here?
Our country has always been strongest when we come together. We feel the
best way forward would be for the government to withdraw its demands
under the All Writs Act and, as some in Congress have proposed, form a
commission or other panel of experts on intelligence, technology, and civil
liberties to discuss the implications for law enforcement, national security,
privacy, and personal freedoms. Apple would gladly participate in such
an effort.
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