This one was interesting. When the poll first came out, voters overwhelmingly sided with Apple, saying the company shouldn’t build a back door into its phones even when it comes to national security. It looked like a blowout.
But then people taking the poll here at AndrewHeller.com had second thoughts, as people nationally also did (Pew), and eventually 52 percent of 163 voters sided with national security over privacy concerns.
In the end, I agree with the poll results here because I don’t believe Cook’s assertion that bad guys would inevitably get their hands on the
“key” to the iPhone’s back door. In fact, I suspect such a key already exists because Apple created it. Why wouldn’t they? (I don’t believe any corporation when it stakes out a virtuous position.) I understand the privacy concerns but in the end doesn’t national security also matter? My sniffer tells me Cook’s concern was one part legitimate concern for iPhone users and one part understated marketing, as in “The iPhone – your naked selfies are safe with us!”
I welcome your thoughts.
Apple. A smart company but a dumb choice not to unlock this phone for the FBI. Let Apple unlock it at the FBI labs. Country first, business second.
too much of a slippery slope. We are losing so many of our freedoms in the name of national security that I fear the terrorists are winning the war.
nope, not buying it. All things have limits, the govt., the second amendment, free speech, us individually….I passionately hate corporations in general, especially after Scalia served up Citizens United. But the govt’s got no biz in our phones. period. Let them get their intel other places. Let us get a grip on what security is, and what’s more important….
Just look at the characters running for President. Do you trust all of them?
If they force Apple to do this once, it will be repeated.
I initially agreed with Apple, but then I learned that the phone is not a personal one, but one issued by the government agency that employed the terrorist and then I considered that Apple Corporation is known to hide billions of dollars off shore so they don’t have to pay their fair share of taxes and then I figured, heck, they aren’t doing anything for altruistic reasons. Sheesh. Follow the money. I’m sure money has something to do with this.
Saw the ABC interview last night with Tim Cook..one thing he kept saying was “if the FBI had just talked to us”, yeah, before the FBI had told the county worker who had the phone to create a new password that essencially locked the phone up, if they had asked Apple?? So because the FBI screwed up NOW they want Apple to save them?
I agree with Tim. The FBI allegedly told the county organization to change the password (so backup would not appear on the Cloud and be stolen or changed by affiliates of the terrorist). Changing the password made it impossible to unlock the phone because of security built into the phone. FBI should have taken the phone with a warrant and asked for Apple’s help first. Anything Apple creates will be hacked or stolen. Get those guys to open the phone.
Any one who thinks that there is such a thing as privacy anymore is living in a dream world. I think someone has to come up with a different word for “protected ” information.
True.
But I think Apple wants to keep pretending there is so its customers can go on pretending there is. This is a company whose business model is based on the proposition that you cannot overestimate the self-absorption of modern consumers.
And of course, if an iPhone was being used to smuggle or transmit Apple company secrets they’d crack it in hours.
If this was indeed a business phone I agree it should be unlocked if possible. If it was a personal phone I don’t think apple should have to create the software to unlock it. If it’s personal and the FBI wants it unlocked, then the FBI should start working on creating software to unlock it. Better yet, they should hire some high school kids, they’d have it unlocked in no time.
I no longer believe that privacy exists anymore for anyone. I imagine every facet of our lives is susceptible to hacking. It is so disheartening, but I honestly believe it to be true.
I agree. My identity was stolen in October – guy had my SSN and address and used it to open a Menard’s credit card. I’m sure they got it as a result of the Blue Cross hacking.