14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s dispute with the FBI is far from over, as the victims of the San Bernardino attack have decided to file a legal brief against the Cupertino-based company and support the FBI in its fight to get access to the iPhone used by one of the terrorists.
A California judge has recently ordered Apple to develop custom software that would allow the FBI to get access to the iPhone 5c used by one of the terrorists in the San Bernardino attack, explaining that this was the only way to reach information concerning national security.
Apple, however, refused to do so and warned that this might actually pose a bigger security threat because it could expose the information of all iPhone users, with company CEO Tim Cook explaining that the FBI actually wanted them to build a backdoor that could be installed on phones.
Apple not willing to hack the iPhone
And despite Apple’s opposition, victims of the attack are now trying to convince the company to build the software needed to break into the iPhone with the help of this legal brief. Lawyer Stephen Larson, who represents the injured party, told Reuters that victims of the San Bernardino massacre fully support the FBI in its efforts to break the iPhone and want Apple to do the same because the truth must be revealed.
"They were targeted by terrorists, and they need to know why, how this could happen," Larson was quoted as saying.
But on the other hand, Apple doesn’t seem to be willing to break into that iPhone, and CEO Tim Cook says that, even though “we mourn the loss of life and want justice for all those whose lives were affected,” the fact that the FBI wants to create a backdoor that can be installed on every phone is still a security threat.
“The FBI may use different words to describe this tool, but make no mistake: Building a version of iOS that bypasses security in this way would undeniably create a backdoor. And while the government may argue that its use would be limited to this case, there is no way to guarantee such control,” Cook pointed out.