The intelligence community is pressuring the tech world to help them break encryption systems and create a backdoor into privately held devices.
There is no limit to their prying eyes, or the powers they wish to hold over society. Of course, it is all to keep you safe.
In the wake of the San Bernardino shooting, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has demanded that Apple create a software that would allow the agency to unlock the shooter’s iPhone.
After the shooter, it is then, of course, open sesame on all of society.
Apple has refused.
In an open letter, Apple CEO Tim Cook has drawn the company’s line in the sand when it comes to federal intrusion of privacy. It reads in part:
We have great respect for the professionals at the FBI, and we believe their intentions are good. Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them. But now the U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone.
Specifically, the FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation. In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.
Two things about this statement are a tad on the unbelievable side. First of all, it’s surprising that Apple is taking such a public stance against helping the government spy on its citizens considering the Snowden leaks.
Second, how can Cook claim this software (or one like it) does not already exist today? The National Security Administration might beg to differ.
The government suggests this tool could only be used once, on one phone. But that’s simply not true. Once created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number of devices. In the physical world, it would be the equivalent of a master key, capable of opening hundreds of millions of locks — from restaurants and banks to stores and homes. No reasonable person would find that acceptable…
The implications of the government’s demands are chilling. If the government can use the All Writs Act to make it easier to unlock your iPhone, it would have the power to reach into anyone’s device to capture their data. The government could extend this breach of privacy and demand that Apple build surveillance software to intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge.
The fact of the matter is, that no communication on these or any other commercial devices is truly secure or private, unless is encrypted, and the government agencies are not using keys to unlock the encryption.
Your personal (and sometimes very private) texts, phone calls and increasingly, important data stored on the phone – as well as passwords and payments – are all up for grabs.
As everyone should be aware by now, the extent of surveillance is near total, and the NSA and other groups can and do collect information from all Americans.
Read more:
Now We Know The Plan: More Surveillance and a Patriot Act For Europe
Not exactly true. The phone in question is a 5C and it is possible to do what the FBI wants. However newer phones, it will never work. What the FBI is worried about is that the phone in question only allows 10 attempts before it erases all data. A OS change will reset the attempts to zero or turn off the option entirely. Newer phones have a separate microcontroller that holds all encryption data and there is no way to bypass this because it is all hardware.
But the argument is they want access to All iPhones. Which in turn a violation of the 4th, Amendments to the Constitution in that no warrants can be issued for any reason for lack of probable cause. Thus, information gathered by “spying” without probable cause is invalid and unconstitutional.
Amendment 5. Not shall any person be deprived of life, LIBERTY, or Property, without due process of law.
Amendment 9. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Therefore, the FBI wanting access to All iPhones is illegal and un-Constitutional!
And I’m sure there are other Amendments and articles which will justify this as well.
I believe what Apple said is just for public consumption. I strongly believe that Apple has already built in back doors into their phones to help the government spy on its citizens. On a side note, isn’t it interesting that the big smartphone makers have made it so that you can’t take the battery out of the phone?
EXACTLY what I was thinking, this is merely a PR stunt by Apple. In this way they set themselves up as privacy-supporters, and flocks of gullible sheep immediately say oh! I guess I’ll get one of THOSE phones, they’re more secure! Suckers…
Article should be updated to say “Apple has SAID that they refused.”
obamas blackberry is private, which no other President allowed to have this. his blackberry has a closed circuit.
The danger Apple faces if it would expose many of our elected official and other high profile official.
Yes it would be dangerous if we found out that obama and his administration along with other officials could be exposed for Treason, their ties with Terrorist groups.
obama and hitlary would be exposed and thats what they don’t want.
Scalia is dead and the family just doesn’t care or are their lives at risk if an autopsy is ordered. Same with Apple, this FBI files are the life life line for the clintons and democrats, and progressives.
That is why I have a double small Friday bag for my phone.
Hey Tim
Bill Gates now bends over for the feds. Remember when the feds took Microsoft to court for anti-trust violations? And then there was nothing? Now there is Windows 10…Hold out at long as you can Tim.
Extexanwannabe
Bill Gates is funding Monsanto’s GMOs and toxins, including endocrine disrupters.
That sure was about the one world order the gates did not want to be a part of and this was to let him know that he would with his money will be taken down by the collective.
Bill Gates is pure evil and he is totally on board with the new world order. He is for open borders, Climate change legislation and what some call “regrowth”, i.e., killing off the populations of the world to a “more manageable” 500 million.
Yep, bill Gates bought into Monsanto poisons big time. They will eat Syngenta.
That’s what I like about my “dumb phone”. No text, no camera, no voice mail, no games, no internet except to its phone book. The phone book is probably its weakest link. And I can remove/change the battery if I want/need to. Phone calls have to be made the “old fashioned way” by dialing a number and actually talking to the other person. It would probably be very easy to hack, but why? There’s nothing there but some phone numbers…mechanic, doctor, dentist, a few friends and relatives, etc.
Exactly! Every friend and relative I have has tried to get me to get a smart phone. They’ve even tried to GIVE me one. I pass. For 60 years an ordinary phone has worked just fine, thanks. If there’s info of mine I don’t want someone to “share” I just don’t put it out over the phone. Simple.
I also find it interesting that cell phones held too near the head or skin have been shown to be carcinogenic, as are the MAST towers, etc. People insist, “No they’re not! That would be illegal!” *sigh* Hopeless…
Very good marketing from Apple. FBI likes Apple most!
They all work together, never trust the propaganda of a secret service!
Publicity
Every new gadget gives you more to worry about.
Fry everything with an EMP I don’t care.
The backdoor does exist. Right now they have to submit an application to Apple to have each specific phone unlocked. However; the Government, would like to their own copy of this code to bypass Apple’s control.
This of course is only a problem if the phone in question does not have Facebook installed on it. Take a look at the T&C’s for the Facebook app and you’ll see that they can do whatever they want with your phone. Turn on the mic or camera. Copy, change or delete information stored on your device (incl. pictures, texts etc)…
Michael, spot on about the facebook app’s t%c. I’ve also read them. Facebook can kiss my ass. glad I don’t use social media for anything.
Tip: Since SO many websites use the FB Social Plugin for comment-hosting – and other FB “goodies”(sic) for ads, article featuring and the like (not all of which necessarily resemble a FB product), one does best when cruising today’s “Safier, Friendier, More Securitized” Web to make a regular habit of looking for and immediately DELETING any FaceBook cookies one may have inadvertently picked up like ticks or fleas along one’s way.
The prime offender afaik is the one named “datr”. That little monster tracks one’s every move and reports it all back to FB Central in realtime. But for safety’s sake, imvho it is simply Best Practice to delete them all.
Brave New Woild Ordure be damned per Common Law and Sweet Normal Decency! It’s up to the Rest of Us to Make It So. And that is all. 0{:-|o[
I can proudly write that I am the last man in American who does not own a cell phone and happy as hell that I don’t!
I’ve always liked planning out my various crimes on a cocktail napkin (sarcasm)
Not the last! Not ALL of us are zombified…
I call BS on this article. Last time I checked there’s nothing out there that can’t be hacked. I have a COMPANY IPhone they’ve had me on for the past 3 years. I don’t do any online banking or keep any personal data on it, etc. I miss my ‘dumb’ phone.
Any bets that if it was Lavoy Finicum’s phone, Apple would have ‘bent over backwards’ to the FBI to make it happen?
No pun intended to Herr Cook.
this would also open up the door to obamas blackberry, a link to heroism and our officials.
Tim Cook……….way to go!!
This is probably from O,he said he wouldn’t check their phones as it would violate their privacy. Since when do terrorists deserve being given any rights? O is most likely involved with them so he doesn’t want that known.
O is probably involved with the phone company,he said earlier that he would not check the phones of these. His excuse was not to violate their privacy,why do terrorists get those rights? Ordinary American citizens don’t,when he wants something done he does it,legal or illegal.
Don’t forget Bill Gates also supports Agenda 21 look it up.He is for killing 500,000,000 Americans.Is he and his family going to be the first in line? He already gave in to the Government just so he can keep his money and he and his family can live.Its all over UTUBE. It called the new world order.The rich people are just a bunch of ass holes who want it all
Rebellious
We only have a few over 320 million people. Bill Gates has made it clear he wants to use Monsanto’s chemical warfare against Americans and other countries. He is pushing for Monsanto and Syngenta to merge. The feds let them.
It’s just not Americans Gates wants to get rid of. What do you think is in all those “vaccines” his foundation forces on African villages, sometimes at gunpoint, and anywhere else in the world he can peddle his poisons? The Gates Foundation is just as dirty as all the other so-called elites.
So now that the Obama administration has allowed just about every illegal alien into the USA he wants a break? Spying on its citizens is a door-ringer in the Obama administration.
How about the NSA & the FBI freakin doing its job for once?
Where is the FBI and Attorney General Lynch when it comes to indicting Clinton?
I think Apple should let the people know that the FBI can go to Apple and receive the info through their equipment and none of the computer info will be open to the public. With a Muslim in charge of FBI, Obama wants the info open to ISIS for them to use.
I THINK IT IS TIME FOR ALL OWNERS OF CELL PHONES TO
DISCARD THEM AND NOT PAY YOUR BILL SEE HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE BILL GATES TO CRY WOLF
I AM NOT GETTING ON AND IF THEY START ON MY COMPUTER I WILL CUT IT OFF ALSO
I’m glad that Apple isn’t caving in. As people who are supposedly “free”, we need a place to go where the free exchange of intelligent ideas and common sense are not spied on by any gov’t.. Our Country was founded on governance through CONSENT of the GOVERNED. ” Corrupt politicians and bureaucrats have been getting away with killing the spirit of this law. We, as The People, must educate each other adequately, in order to know what is truly good governance. Protected places help us do this.