XXIII / 11
MGOVMAGAZINE
23
FBI encryption fight against Apple starts a
debate on security policies Vs tech privacy
in United Sates. As Apple refused to help
FBI to hack iPhone of one of the San
Bernardino terrorists, the federal judge
had earlier requested Apple to allow FBI
agents to break into the terrorist iPhone
but Apple CEO refused this request and
said that US Government undermines
security of one of our leading products.
This battle between Apple and FBI these
days received attention of all smart devices
users especially Apple devices. Some
experts think that Apple should comply
with the court order and decrypt iPhone 5c
used by one of san Bernardino shooters in
California. Meanwhile, so many tech firms
back Apple such as Twitter and Facebook
in addition ex-CIA contractor, Edward
snowden also expressed his support to
Apple stance.
In the first week of last December, an
armed attack occurred in San Bernardino
resulted in 14 dead and 22 injuries. In
search of terrorists stuff, FBI found iPhone
with ios 9 for one of the terrorists secured
by a passcode which is the cause of the
current standoff between Apple and FBI.
US Ministry of Justice demanded from
Apple to break into iPhone but the latter
refused for customer privacy reasons.
While FBI stressed that the request is
associated with the national security
which led to judicial dispute between both
parties. The Federal Court in Los Angeles
ordered Apple to help FBI technically
and granted Apple 3 days to defend itself
which has been extended later.
The court proposed to Apple to help FBI
agents by providing backdoor in ios
operating system of iPhones provided
that such backdoor will also be secured for
only one use in one device as the same key
cannot be used to encrypt other devices.
The problem is that FBI cannot open
this iPhone without external help for
three main reasons: it is probable that
the terrorist, Sayad Farouk activated
feature of deletion of all date when wrong
10 passcodes entered, in addition, the
passcode must be manually entered one
after another without using any external
device could cause damage to iPhone.
ios system automatically disables iPhone
for a certain period of time after entering
wrong passcodes of a limited number of
attempts.
Apple said that it refused FBI request
because it compromises its customer
privacy all over the world while FBI said
that Apple violated laws in order to keep
its reputation in tech markets.
Apple CEO Tim Cook demanded US
administration to withdraw its request for
encrypting iPhone passcode and he think
if the company accepted the request it
will form a dangerous precedence in such
phones encryption.
Cook also added that the company neither
sympathize nor tolerate with terrorists
but the acceptance of the court order
to encrypt iPhone passcode means to
expand US administration authorities
and will form a dangerous precedence in
breaking into those phones in the future.
He also said that it is not only related to
break into one phone passcode or one
single investigation case only, but it is
related to date security of millions of
law-abiding users which could threat all
people basic rights.
On the other hand, some companies
back Apple most importantly Twitter and
Facebook which announced their support
to Apple stance.
According to American website Engadget,
Jack Dorsey Chairman of Twitter
Company, posted that he supports Apple
and Tim Cook decision not allowing
anyone to violate the users privacy.
While Facebook company in a statement
to USA Today expressed its support to
Apple and refuses any attempt from
governments to weaken security and
encryption features in smart phones and
devices.