“The FBI could demand that Apple turns over its source code and private key to the iPhone’s operating system, the Justice Dept. implied in its latest filing against the tech giant,” Zack Whittaker reports for ZDNet.
“The government’s response aims to target a critical argument made by Apple — that compelling the company to rewrite its iOS software to remove security features in order to allow federal agents to bypass the passcode on the San Bernardino shooter’s phone would be overly ‘burdensome,'” Whittaker reports. “Some case watchers saw the citation as more indicative of a threat than a technological suggestion.”
“By its own admission, the Justice Dept. set this precedent in its 2013 case against Lavabit, the encrypted email provider said to have been used by whistleblower Edward Snowden. ‘I think [the government] is setting up the possibility of demanding the key and the source code,’ said Lavabit founder Ladar Levison, speaking on the phone,” Whittaker reports. “He too was compelled by the government to provide “technical assistance” to help the FBI install a pen register device to obtain metadata on an Lavabit account — thought to be Snowden’s but that was never formally confirmed as the case remains under seal. Levison forcibly shut down his encrypted email service after federal agents later demanded that he turn over his master encryption key, which he said would give agents access to every one of his customers’ data.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Is the U.S. government so stupid as to not realize that the end of its quixotic quest is not the end of Apple, but the end of the U.S. as we know it?
If it ever came to that, Apple should leave the country and not look back. We’re positive there are hundreds of countries around the world who would welcome a company with a highly-paid (and therefore highly desirable) workforce who can contribute to the economy in myriad ways, from consumption to taxation.
If the U.S. government thinks a $6 billion steel and glass donut in Cupertino will keep the company shackled in Oceania, they should think again. Apple has enough cash on-hand right now to build 36 more donuts with billions left over, yet they need only build one in a country with leadership who understands liberty along with basic economics.
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
SEE ALSO:
Obama criticized for ‘tone deaf’ comments at SXSW regarding Apple’s fight against government overreach – March 14, 2016
The U.S. government’s fight with Apple could backfire big time – March 14, 2016
John Oliver just smartly explained Apple’s fight against U.S. government overreach – March 14, 2016
U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa at SXSW: ‘Hold your iPhone a little bit higher, so the FBI can hear us better’ – March 14, 2016
Obama pushes for iPhone back door; Congressman Issa blasts Obama’s ‘fundamental lack of understanding’ – March 12, 2016
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch backs U.S. government overreach on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – March 11, 2016
Former CIA Director: FBI wants to dictate iPhone’s operating system – March 11, 2016
U.S. government takes cheap shots at Apple – March 11, 2016
FBI warns it could demand Apple’s iPhone code and secret electronic signature – March 10, 2016
California Democrat Diane Feinstein backs U.S. government overreach over Apple – March 10, 2016
Obama lists the ‘tech leaders’ involved in new U.S. Cybersecurity Initiative and purposely snubs Apple – March 10, 2016
Snowden: U.S. government’s claim it can’t unlock San Bernardino iPhone is ‘bullshit’ – March 10, 2016
U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa: The FBI should try to unlock shooter’s iPhone without Apple’s help – March 2, 2016
U.S. Representative Darrell Issa on Apple vs. FBI: Very scary when your government wants to know more about you – February 24, 2016
U.S. government seeks to force Apple to extract data from a dozen more iPhones – February 23, 2016
Apple could easily lock rights-trampling governments out of future iPhones – February 20, 2016
Apple CEO Tim Cook lashes out at Obama administration over encryption, bemoans White House lack of leadership – January 13, 2016
Short-timer U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder blasts Apple for protecting users’ privacy against government overreach – September 30, 2014
Obama administration demands master encryption keys from firms in order to conduct electronic surveillance against Internet users – July 24, 2013