“I consider the right of privacy to be a fundamental, inalienable human right that even transcends the Constitution. Without the right of privacy, all the other rights we take for granted can be crushed by the Surveillance State,” Mark Hibben writes for Seeking Alpha. “The right to encrypt one’s personal data flows directly from the right of privacy. However, the Constitution, recognizing that law enforcement would have a reasonable need to abrogate privacy in criminal investigations, mandates the use of court orders to limit and control the investigatory powers of the state.”
“What I and other privacy advocates have maintained is that encryption backdoors are so insecure as to be worthless to consumers, and ultimately to the government,” Hibben writes. “Any encryption system with a backdoor would be avoided by criminals. Even if national governments were to make strong encryption software illegal, it would only create a black market in the software that would benefit criminals only.”
“In his letter to customers, Tim Cook makes many of these points as well. Unfortunately, in the San Bernardino shooter case, that isn’t exactly what the government is asking for. The government is asking Apple to provide technical assistance in unlocking one specific iPhone. More importantly the government is telling Apple exactly what it wants done. In the customer letter, Cook acknowledges that Apple can do what the government wants,” Hibben writes. “Apple has claimed that the modified iOS, once created, could become a tool for hackers and thieves. Undoubtedly this is the case, but the government has exposed vulnerabilities in iOS that Apple should close in any case. I’m also dubious as to whether Apple can win this particular legal battle. Apple will certainly fight the order, but should it lose, that’s not the end of the world or even of privacy on iOS devices. Apple needs to close the vulnerabilities that the modified iOS exploits.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yes, while taking this fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if need be, Apple also must close these issues that Big Brother wishes to exploit. If the 4-digit passcode has to go, it has to go.
SEE ALSO:
Apple co-founder Woz: Steve Jobs would have fought this U.S. government overreach, too – February 19, 2016
Mother who lost son in San Bernardino terrorist attack sides with Apple against U.S. government backdoor demands – February 19, 2016
iPhones don’t kill people, people kill people – February 19, 2016
Court extends deadline for Apple to oppose order to unlock iPhone – February 19, 2016
Twitter, Facebook, Box support Apple against U.S. government demand to hack iPhone – February 19, 2016
No, Apple has NOT unlocked 70 iphones for law enforcement – February 18, 2016
Apple is right, the U.S. government demand would make us all less secure – February 18, 2016
How Apple will fight the DOJ in iPhone backdoor case: U.S. government’s position stands on 227 year old law – February 18, 2016
USA Today alters logo to support Apple in fight against U.S. government overreach – February 18, 2016
Obama administration claims FBI is not asking Apple for a ‘backdoor’ to the iPhone – February 18, 2016
Privacy activists plan rallies across U.S. to support Apple in battle against U.S. government on February 23rd – February 18, 2016
Google CEO Sundar Pichai wishy-washy on Apple’s fight against U.S. government backdoor demands – February 18, 2016
Why Apple is fighting back against U.S. federal government demands for iPhone access – February 17, 2016
Snowden backs Apple in fight over iPhone; blasts Google’s silence – February 17, 2016
Obama administration: We’re only demanding Apple hack just one iPhone – February 17, 2016
Security firm shows how Apple could bypass iPhone security to comply with FBI request – February 17, 2016
What the Apple court order means for your smartphone privacy – February 17, 2016
EFF opposes U.S. government demand to force Apple to unlock terrorist’s iPhone – February 17, 2016
‘Who do they think they are?’ Donald Trump blasts Apple for not unlocking San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone – February 17, 2016
Tim Cook posts open letter opposing U.S. government demands to bypass iPhone encryption – February 17, 2016
Apple CEO opposes court order to help FBI unlock San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone – February 17, 2016
Apple wants judge to rule if it can be forced to unlock defendant’s iPhone – February 16, 2016
U.S. House lawmakers seek to outlaw states from banning encrypted iPhones – February 10, 2016
Obama administration wants access to smartphones – December 15, 2015
Obama administration’s calls for backdoors into encrypted communications echo Clinton-era key escrow fiasco – December 14, 2015
