At the dawn of the cyber-century, how we view online security would forever be changed: the FBI has asked Apple — one of the most rigid tech companies in the world, security-wise — for the key to unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters.
Apple, however, has declined, insisting that doing so will set a dangerous precedent. The company is indeed adamant on its goal to defend the privacy and safety of all users of its tech.
Chief Executive Tim Cook said the backdoor software which the federal government wants the company to create to unlock the iPhone could potentially not only be used once, but it could be used over and over again on any number of devices.
He said the software would be the master key that could open millions of locks from banks to restaurants to homes and stores.
"No reasonable person would find that acceptable," said Cook.
Just like any battle, both sides will need allies. As reported by Tech Times, major tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon are all rallying in support of Apple's decision.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company is against terrorism, but believes that encryption is an important tool.
"I don't think requiring backdoors with encryption is either going to be an effective way to increase security or is really the right thing to do for just the direction that the world is going to," said Zuckerberg.
However, a report by The New York Times suggests that something is quite fishy: Apple has previously slammed Google and Facebook for supposedly exploiting users' personal information to sell ads, consequently endangering personal privacy.
Still, Silicon Valley's view of privacy is completely nuanced.
"The government can put me in jail. Google, Facebook and Twitter cannot," said Georgetown University scholar Larry Downs.
The federal agency says it's only asking for technical assistance in bypassing security features on a phone used by one of the extremists who killed 14 people in San Bernardino.
"We couldn't look the survivors in the eye if we did not follow this lead," said James Comey, FBI director.
Apple has filed a request to dismiss the FBI's court order. Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Twitter say they will all file legal arguments to support the company's case.
These same companies had objected vocally after Edward Snowden revealed the scope of the surveillance programs of the National Security Agency, which collected user data and tapped their networks without their knowledge.
The companies had gone to court to limit that kind of data-gathering, while fighting attempts to weaken the encryption codes that shield inboxes from prying eyes.
Yet advocates complain that these same companies reap billions of dollars by collecting personal information such as records of customers' online behavior and using them for advertising.
Google and Facebook have argued that they take pains to protect the data they record.
For instance, Facebook keeps track of user likes and interactions so the company can show them ads targeted to people with similar characteristics.
Rachel Whetstone, formerly the senior vice president of Google, said in a speech last year that the tech company does not sell personal information, nor share it without permission, except in extremely limited circumstances. This includes facing a court-issued warrant.
As Apple faces its big battle with the FBI, Electronic Frontier Foundation executive director Cindy Cohn warns consumers that they should be aware that any information they give to companies could someday be sought by the government.
Cohn said she is glad that companies are coming together to support Apple.
"It ultimately may raise some hard questions for them about how much information they need to collect, and how they secure it, and how long they keep it," she added.
Photo : Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr
