Many are probably aware that Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are at odds in a legal battle with regard to unlocking the iPhone 5c belonging to the shooter of the infamous San Bernardino shooter, Syed Farook.
Sahilin Kondoker, husband of one of the survivors, said that he also called for Apple to consider helping the FBI with the investigations by unlocking the perpetrator's phone, but he now believes that there is a higher probability that no useful information will be gained by the FBI.
United States Magistrate Judge James Orenstein ruled in favor of Apple, but while most of the victims' families are opposing Apple's decision to reject the FBI's request, Kondoker feels that the company should continue to fight against the FBI.
It is not much the strength of someone whose loved one survived a violent attack but the knowledge that a device issued by the workplace would not be readily used for personal reasons by someone who intends to commit a crime.
"[San Bernardino] can track the phone on GPS in case they needed to determine where people were. Second, both the iCloud account and carrier account were controlled by the county so they could track any communications. This was common knowledge among my wife and other employees," Kondoker said.
The situation is really a catch-22, especially for Apple if it complies with the federal government's demand, which could expose its own clients to security threats.
On the other hand, not complying with the government already makes it look like the company is only trying to protect itself. In spite Apple Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook, explanation that the implication of FBI's request is larger and far more dangerous than it seems.
"We have great respect for the professionals at the FBI, and we believe their intentions are good [...] But now the U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have [...] 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," Cook said.
Both parties have a point as there have been instances when the offenders tend to forget how powerful technology is in identifying and tracking them down before they can strike again. But Kondoker also explained that, if Farook was devious enough to hide his intentions from both his co-workers and fellow Muslims who mean no harm, he may just have enough awareness to keep his evil intentions from being accidentally scooped up by his own workplace.
Perhaps there is just not enough assurance that someone from either party will take advantage of the situation. To be fair, both FBI and Apple have good intentions, but then again, one mistake and a good intention can become either a roadblock — like how Farook's iCloud password was reset — or a trigger for exploitation.
