Apple Inc. has released the following statement, verbatim:
From the beginning, we objected to the FBI’s demand that Apple build a backdoor into the iPhone because we believed it was wrong and would set a dangerous precedent. As a result of the government’s dismissal, neither of these occurred. This case should never have been brought.
We will continue to help law enforcement with their investigations, as we have done all along, and we will continue to increase the security of our products as the threats and attacks on our data become more frequent and more sophisticated.
Apple believes deeply that people in the United States and around the world deserve data protection, security and privacy. Sacrificing one for the other only puts people and countries at greater risk.
This case raised issues which deserve a national conversation about our civil liberties, and our collective security and privacy. Apple remains committed to participating in that discussion.
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The U.S. government and in particular, FBI Director James Comey, lied all along. That, or they’re just incompetent.
Using the court process and an antiquated law to accomplish the FBI’s goal was especially inappropriate in this situation given that Congress and the White House were actively engaged on the issue. The fact that the FBI ultimately found an alternative solution suggests that it did not conduct full due diligence before filing the lawsuit. — U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu
U.S. Citizens: Never forget that you funded the FBI’s purchase of this iPhone backdoor and the iPhone’s contents. DEMAND TO SEE WHAT YOU PAID FOR.
The Federal government ordered Apple to create inferior products with an intentional flaw. Apple “objected.” Apple WON. 🙂
I don’t believe the FBI cracked the phone. Where’s the proof. I think they needed to come up with a way to save face after their debacle of a case agains Apple. Public opinion turned against them (along with many members of congress) and they needed an escape hatch. Lets demand that they prove they found an alternative way to break into the iPhone.
My understanding is that the iPhone in question was a 5c, which didn’t have the secure enclave. It is likely they found a way to get in.
I guarantee that the US gov will try again when they feel conditions are more favorable.
The FIB has found a way in to the iPhone using a third party to do the work. Therefore they can’t come at Apple and say once more that only Apple can get in. They screwed the pooch on this one.
I don’t think there will be any conditions that will make it favorable to weaken security for millions of users that would also set a precedent that could give not only the FBI but non-friendly governments access to anyones data. This is what Apple keeps reminding everyone about. It is not just about 1 phone. It’s about all devices, services that would be open for attack.
I’d love the FBI, if they did crack this phone, to admit they found nothing useful. Big D’OH!