It’s been roughly two months since the tragic San Bernardino terrorist attack that claimed 14 lives and launched the world into a state of fear. Now, during their investigation, the FBI has acquired the iPhone of shooter Syed Farook, but have run into a complication: they can’t get past the password screen.
It’s been roughly two months since the tragic San Bernardino terrorist attack that claimed 14 lives and launched the world into a state of fear. Now, during their investigation, the FBI has acquired the iPhone of shooter Syed Farook, but have run into a complication: they can’t get past the password screen.
Rather, they can’t guess the security code within the number of times given before the data becomes undecryptable. The FBI is seeking cooperation from Apple to provide a program that allows for unlimited attempts, but even with Federal District Court for the District of Central California Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym issuing an order for Apple to provide this key, they have persistently denied to help. Despite the intentions of the FBI and their work, providing the government with a backdoor key to one phone is an example of sacrificing private security for national monitoring.
Apple is correct in their defiance and shouldn’t have to give a master key to the FBI, or this will set a precedent of private businesses being subjugated to the power of federal agencies.
According to Apple CEO Tim Cook in an open letter, the iPhone has ”become an essential part of our lives.” After all it’s where we store most of our private data, whether it be our plans and conversations or financial and medical documents. The important information we hold in our phones are the reason for such extensive encryption measures, our lives are under the protection of a small box.
This is why the efforts the FBI is taking to crack Farook’s phone is startling. If such a massive corporation such as Apple can be forced to compromise the security of the individual’s phone once, then who says they can’t be pressured into doing it again? The FBI does have a valid reason for their request as national security is at risk, but what good is national security from foreign threats if we’re constantly being monitored internally?
We have already been exposed to the calamity stirred by untrustworthy government surveillance when Edward Snowden leaked classified details regarding the NSA monitoring phone activity. The idea of being spied on via cell phone paints an Orwellian picture of being unknowingly watched to the point of using caution on a device designed to communicate. Our government is here to maintain and protect us, but it’s clear this is not the way to do so.
But here we are facing the FBI suggesting the use of the All Writs Act of 1789, which would expand their ability to issue further written orders as necessary for their pursuits.
“The government would have us remove security features and add new capabilities to the operating system, allowing a pass code to be input electronically” stated Cook. Apple would be forced by endless writs to abide by the FBI, effectively being pressured into action; and with such action, the government could use this force to expose your privacy.
With the growing wariness towards the government, couldn’t they possibly do something intrusive with our phones again? Perhaps, but we have to be proactive with our stability. If Apple succumbs to giving a master key, it will set a precedent of personal security measures being broken down and companies being submissive to the government. Sure it may be only done this once, and it would all be for the good reason of furthering the investigation on the horrid terrorist attacks, but still, a breach of privacy will be allowed to exist in our nation and will be all that is remembered. Apple needs to persevere or the mistrust between people and government will grow and this event will be obscured into its core message: a loss of liberty.
