Shortly after news of the California Court asking Apple to unlock and retrieve data from the iPhone of the perpetrator in San Bernardino massacre, CEO Tim Cook has sent out a rigid message affirmed that Apple would not help the FBI access user data, even if it was a killer.
Tim Cook began his letter by sharing the fact that so many people were now using smartphones as an essential part of life, they stored the conversations, music, financial information, and more other personal data.
Apple’s CEO emphasized the importance of encrypting those data. Encryption not only helps protect data but also protects users from many different threats.
However, when it comes to coordinating investigations with the FBI, Tim Cook said that Apple would be willing to cooperate as much as possible and in the exercise of their powers. Apple and the company’s employees were shocked and indignant at the murder in San Bernardino, but Apple will not unlock their devices whether it would be helpful to the investigation.
Tim Cook said in the message that they absolutely respected the FBI and believed their purpose was well. Up to the present time, they also did all of their capabilities and legal scope to help the FBI investigate the case.
The request of the FBI is Apple has to create a key to unlock the killer’s iPhone and get the important data in order to serve the investigation. But they will not know that it is a magic key, which will be able to open all the Apple devices in the future, not just once, but many times afterwards.
Apple also said never before had a precedent that a technology company in the United States might be compelled to disclose the encrypted personal information of customers for government to serve the investigation.
Ending his message, Tim Cook insisted that his decision was not to oppose the investigators, he feared if this bad precedent happened, it would be the biggest mistake in the history of not just Apple but the whole world IT industry.
Earlier, President Obama also called for technology companies to cooperate with the Government in order to prevent terrorist acts before they occur. However, that requirement is beyond the ability of companies like Apple, because it is not only a threat to all of their customers but also violate personal freedoms that America proposed.
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