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President Obama cautions against taking ‘absolutist view’ on encryption in Apple/FBI case [Video]

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The latest to speak out on the Apple and FBI controversy is none other than President Obama who earlier today attended a talk at South by Southwest Interactive. While the talk was about “civic engagement in the 21st Century,” the conversation not surprisingly turned to the government’s role in the high-profile Apple and FBI case.

Obama made it clear that he isn’t behind Apple in the case, saying that tech companies shouldn’t “take an absolutist view” on encryption and encouraging them to make concessions instead of forcing Congress to pass new law:

…technology is evolving so rapidly that new questions are being asked and I am of the view that there are very real reasons that we want to make sure that government can’t just willy nilly get into everyone’s iPhones, or smartphones, that are full of very personal information… lets face it, the whole Snowden disclosure episode has elevated people’s suspicions of this…

The question we now have to ask is, if technologically it is possible to make an impenetrable device or system where the encryption is so strong that there is no key, there’s no door, at all, then how do we apprehend the child pornographer, how do we solve, or disrupt a terrorist plot, what mechanisms to we have available to do simple things like tax enforcement… if government can’t get in, then everyone’s walking around with a Swiss bank account in their pocket… there has to be some concession to the need to be able to get into that information somehow… folks on the encryption side will argue that any key whatsoever… could end up being used on every device… We’re going to have to make some decisions about how do we balance these respective risks…

So far, after refusing a judge’s request to unlock a device belonging to a suspect on behalf of the FBI in the case, Apple has taken the position that it can’t be legally compelled to create new products that allow the access government wants and that it should be up to Congress to make law that addresses the overall policy questions at hand.  And it looks like that’s where the case is headed as Apple expressed that view at a congressional hearing before the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month, ahead of a federal court hearing scheduled for March 22.

Obama continued by saying that companies shouldn’t take an “absolutist view” on encryption and that he thinks the solution will come down to creating a back door of sorts for government: “I suspect that the answer’s going to come down to how do we create a system where the encryption is as strong as possible, the key is as secure as possible, it is accessible by the smallest number of people as possible, for a subset of issues that we agree are important…”

Watch the full talk with President Obama below (the Apple/FBI talk specifically starts at 1:15:00)

[youtube=https://youtu.be/FhFibpHSJFE]

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Comments

  1. applenthusiast - 8 years ago

    President Obama is the Government. Everyone who reports up to him acts on his behalf. The FBI’s views are his views. He had to use soft language at SXSW but in reality he has been a strong defender of the NSA and it’s illegal collection of American’s phone records without warrants.

    • srgmac - 8 years ago

      “..it is accessible by the smallest number of people as possible..”
      This proves to me, and should prove to everyone, that he does not understand the issue.
      The mere existence of ANY accessibility, FOR ANYONE, is a weakness in the system, and will be exploited by bad actors — it’s not a matter of if, but when.
      This is why people do not put “back doors” into security systems.
      You can’t have it both ways!! Either we are all secure, including the bad guys, or we are all vulnerable!
      That’s the way it works — pick a side.

      • pdixon1986 - 8 years ago

        i want to cry…
        he is right… the average person can’t really explain how tech works… they can kinda get the basics on what it does, but get them to do coding is near impossible… those with a bit more skill and an interest in tech will be able to tell you how it works and understand the tech and possibly dabbled in coding… there are even developers who wouldnt even know how to hack on the basic level, never mind something complex…
        The mac is hackable, you can infect a mac, you can make viruses for mac — but it takes a bit more skill and know how and a lot of effort for most — so they dont bother… hence why most head over to windows.
        In fact, a lot of those people (which is a few) who get your personal data etc don’t get it from your devices!!! — a lot of your data people can already buy on the black market, there are people who just call you and can get relevant info that way…
        Even at your bank – many people working for your bank will have access to your account – how do you think you do phone banking, or change a password if you forget the old one etc.
        All your data in the icloud, google drive, etc is not just floating around – it is all saved on servers that can be hacked.
        Those people who back up to a hard drive – someone just needs to break into your house which is very easy.

        In short – there are very few people who want access to your phone… 99.9% dont care about your videos, photos, etc unless you are a celeb… they honestly dont care about your messages or internet browsing, and they dont care about your contact list or calendar… they will be interested in your bank details (which are stored on the bank servers and website), passwords (which are secure on your phone, but if you use them online or on a PC they are no longer secure) <– they have other means to get the stuff that matters.
        The only people who will be interested in your content are the police, FBI etc — if you write a message "im going to blow up… tomorrow" they will want to act on that… or if they have a murder, evidence on a phone could put them away for life without parole rather than a few years etc… photos can help find people who have been kidnapped etc.

        I understand why people want this 100% protection… but that only protects their privacy on that device — it doesnt protect their privacy on other devices — and it certainly doesnt protect your security or the nations security..

        If Apple win, i can imagine the iphone being the number 1 device associated with criminal activities, and im almost certain there will be a huge terrorist attack like 9/11 and it will be done using iphones — and all those victims families will have to put on a smile and say "for a moment i was worried…i still have my privacy…that's what matters the most to me…darn i lost 3 friends, my mother, and father…hmmm i cant access their phone for memories of them — oh well, they will have their privacy too… what, we have no evidence on the terrorist due to them using iphones — meh, they have their privacy too…it's all good"

        I wonder if that's what it will take to wake people up… privacy comes at a huge cost to national security…its a no brainer

      • elme26bih - 8 years ago

        @ pddixon1986:

        But it’s a huge difference between that if you know that somebody is using your data and maybe asking you and if you don’t know if somebody is using / stealing your data. And if there is a backdoor, everybody can come in.

        If someone in the bank is stealing my data I will get my money back. If somebody hacks my iPhone / Mac or somethings else, I will not get my money back. That’s a difference.

        Yes you’re right if somebody wants to break up in my house, he will get in. But this is the reason why we have keys, alarms and so.

        You’re view is a little bit “too simple”. Just because of “If somebody wants to …” is not a reason to give up all security and privacy protection.

        Maybe you don’t need a code for your bank account and you don’t need a doorlock.
        “Come on guys, come in and get my money, TV, Mac and so on …”

        This FBI / Apple debate is one of the stupidest things I heard in my life!!! For years everybody wants a secure system, where data is protected and Apple created a system like this and now it’s not OK, because some guys from the FBI who have no idea about life believe in that, that everybody have to be transparent. Creating a backdoor means a lot of problems!!!

        Sorry for my English but I hope you understand me. :)

    • eswinson - 8 years ago

      Strong encryption prevents more crime than weak encryption would allow to be prosecuted. Weak encryption funds more terrorism than strong encryption enables. 

  2. lombax54a - 8 years ago

    His statement is just a few run on sentences that don’t have any substance.

    • prukel - 8 years ago

      Which is what most politicians have done with the exception of all the Republican candidates who’ve come down on the side of the FBI. It’s not the best alternative but likely. Congress will weigh in one way or other.

      • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

        All Republicans? Hahaha.. That’s a dumb statement. Just because someone is Republican doesn’t mean they will always have valid statements. Many politicians don’t necessarily understand or want to understand security and they are just taking a myopic viewpoint using a couple of crimes to set a precedence without thinking of the consequences. They are also doing it to posture for their own gratification to gain public approval or to get votes for an upcoming election. The issue is not really the smartphone itself, it’s more that when someone didn’t back up all of their data to the Cloud or their computer. If the user had a recent back up to the Cloud, all they would have to do is ask Apple to reset the password, which they would do with or maybe without a court order (since the San Bernardino 5C was owned by the County) and then they could get access to whatever is available on the cloud, which includes emails, contact, and potentially other information. But in the case of the 5C, there was no backup to the Cloud, if they backed up to a desktop computers (Windows, Linux, or OS X), they can use their password system to figure out the password, it would just depend on how long it would take since people can have rather elaborate passwords, or their might be another way to do it, depending on what version OS they had. They just have phones they don’t know what to do because they don’t have backups to go after.

        What the FBI wants is technically not that possible, if at all. And their solution if Apple can’t get access to the iPhone they have is to create a backdoor, if a backdoor is created, it opens up everyone’s devices to be potentially hacked by criminals.

      • John Fatte - 8 years ago

        Let’s see all the Republicans have come down on the side of the FBI? Wait, is Obama now a Republican? Is Hillary, the most untrustworthy person in the world, now a Republican? What am I missing here.

      • iSRS - 8 years ago

        To be fair, John, Hillary hasn’t picked a side yet. Doesn’t want to piss off half the population.

    • srgmac - 8 years ago

      He wants to have it both ways, all he has done is talk out of both sides of his mouth on issues like these.

      • I think it’s clear that Obama is talking out his ass. Maybe still both sides of his mouth, but his head is so far up his ass on this and so many other issues, that I’m sure his butt cheeks must also be flapping out a few words.

        Honestly, he’ll likely go down as one of the least remembered presidents except for the color of his skin, which is unfortunate considering he had the opportunity to do so much, coming into power after a president as pathetic as GWB.

  3. iSRS - 8 years ago

    Well, that proves he either (a) doesn’t get it, (b) doesn’t care, or (c) is a liar. Once you start talking about “child pornographers” all you are doing is spreading FUD. NOT what a leader should do.

    “I suspect that the answer’s going to come down to how do we create a system where the encryption is as strong as possible, the key is as secure as possible, it is accessible by the smallest number of people as possible, for a subset of issues that we agree are important…”

    Sorry, Mr. President, there is NO. SUCH. THING.

    • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

      I would tend to believe that if a person sides with a backdoor to be created, they might not fully understand security and the ramifications of a backdoor. Yes, in a perfect world it would be nice if they had a backdoor that was ONLY used to crack devices of criminals that are under investigation, but the reality is that hacker WILL eventually figure out a way to get access to the backdoor since that’s all they do all day long.

      What I find humorous is asking Apple to remove the 10 unsuccessful attempts on the 5C in question. They can’t do that remotely and they can’t do a forced update on a locked phone that they don’t have access to the password that I’m aware of. Does Apple have a box to connect the iPhone to that will bypass the password? I doubt they have this, typically the user has to wipe clean the device, and then restore from a backup in the scenario where the user forgets their own password. right?

      • srgmac - 8 years ago

        “…they might not fully understand…”

        That’s the problem with this issue — anyone who actually has any iota of technical knowledge KNOWS that a backdoor is the worst possible idea in any security system. Then you have the ones who don’t understand — and instead of trying to learn about security — they instead come up with all these analogies that are straw men / false equivalencies and play on the public’s fear with this ridiculous rhetoric — maybe it’s because they would have to admit to themselves that they really don’t understand the issue in the first place, and they are constitutionally incapable of doing so?

        I fear that the “smart” people here are going to lose, because there seems to be a very large number of people who are in camp #2 — and fundamentally, they don’t understand the issue, and because of their inability to be honest with themselves and admit they don’t understand it — they will NEVER bother to learn, and hence, they will NEVER understand. There are some scary times ahead, that’s for sure.

    • Daniel Beehn - 8 years ago

      Maybe there’s not. But it sure as hell doesn’t hurt to try.

      That’s more than what can be said for your close-minded response.

      • srgmac - 8 years ago

        I read his response, and I don’t think it’s closed minded — it’s factual, but it is blunt…I don’t mean to insult you but are you familiar with security and encryption? Any access given, at any time, means another attack vector for bad actors.
        It doesn’t matter if you only *intend* it to be used for authorized access.
        IMHO the real problem is that people do not understand the underlying issue and all technical aspects of information security and encryption; the ones that do understand the issue know that there is no way to please both sides…It’s either choice A — we’re all secure, including the bad guys, or choice B — we’re all vulnerable. I’m sorry if this makes you feel uncomfortable, but this is the truth — and the truth does not care about your feelings.
        Pick a side — it’s either A or B. I know which one I choose.

      • iSRS - 8 years ago

        Not sure of your credentials, Daniel, but for the past 15 years I have worked in software and security. I know what I am saying. Mr. Obama doesn’t seem to. He even said, “I suspect the answer is going to come down to how do we create a system where the encryption is as strong as possible, the key is as secure as possible, it is accessible by the smallest number of people possible, on a subset of issues we deem is important.”

        Smallest number of people possible? So, just US federal agencies? What about British agencies? Russian? Chinese? North Korean? Where does it end?

        The problem with creating a backdoor is that it is done. The only way to prevent it from getting out into the open is to not create it. Mr. Obama is using carefully crafted phrases to paint the technology industry as chicken little, like saying the

      • iSRS - 8 years ago

        (Sorry for the split response, errant tap)

        …Saying the creation of a back door is Orwellian or Big Brother. That isn’t what the technology industry is saying. Sure, many comments in various tech blogs are, but the industry isn’t. They are trying to educate the public to the actual dangers of something like this getting out.

  4. Joe Mizereck - 8 years ago

    So pleased to hear our president say something that makes perfect sense…he gets it as do most people. The freedoms we have in this country come at a price…security is not free. It demands sacrifice, compromise and anyone who thinks otherwise is plain and simple delusional. http://www.Boycott-Apple.com and put Tim Cook in jail for obstructing justice Who the hell does he think he is? http://www.SecurityTrumpsPrivacy.com

    • iSRS - 8 years ago

      I am trying to give you the benefit of the doubt here, but you can’t be serious, can you? Jail Tim Cook? For what? Daring to disagree with the Government? RESPONDING in court to the FBI who brought it to court? Stating that the Congress should be the ones making the rules?

      If you really believe this, I feel sorry for you. That is not the American way.

      And “most people” do no get it. Mr. Obama does not “get it” – or he does and doesn’t care, which I don’t want to believe.

      The fact is a back door that “only a few” get access to does not exist. And, sure, he could say this is just for “extreme” cases here in the US. We all know that will not be what it is. What is to stop a foreign government from demanding the same, and “oops” letting it get out? How do we stop that? If you tell me, I will listen.

      I expect you don’t have the answer, because it would go against your bias.

  5. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

    No, it’s not like we’re walking around with a Swiss bank account, unless we actually have a Swiss bank account. The Feds know what bank accounts we have since we have to have ID, a social security number and sign a document creating a Taxpayer ID with each bank account we open up in the US. Come on Obama, quit trying to compare security with a mobile phone to a Swiss bank account.

    The thing is that some people don’t back up their data to the Cloud or to a local computer that makes it more difficult for LE to assess the information. It’s one thing to steal or obtain a lost phone and that’s what the security is meant for. It’s meant to prevent criminals from obtaining access to our data when they steal or find a lost phone.

    LE can get access to SMS text messages, GPS locations and call logs without accessing the smartphone. That can be useful data.

    If a company creates a backdoor, it’s likely that eventually criminals will get access to them and then they can get access to data and bank information, etc. which is also the right of the consumer to have security that prevents that access.

    I feel if the Government forces a company to have a backdoor and that backdoor is used to create a crime by someone other than the user or the company that sells the device, then the Government should be held accountable because it’s the government that’s FORCING the backdoor to be created.

    • Daniel Beehn - 8 years ago

      From a quick search on Google:

      “Swiss banks are famous worldwide for their secrecy, which is mandated by Swiss law. This secrecy has resulted in a great deal of laundered and other illegal money to be deposited in Swiss accounts. Historically, this has formed a significant portion of the Swiss banking sector.”

      Now imagine a terrorist or school shooter with schematics or a diary of events saved on their phone that can’t be accessed. All that valuable, incriminating info on one device, that no one can access except the user, because encryption.

      Sounds like an apt analogy to me.

      • srgmac - 8 years ago

        It’s actually a good analogy for people who don’t understand information security and encryption, but it’s a horrible analogy for people that do.
        The bottom line is, it’s not really like a Swiss Bank Account…as the Bank is the trusted authority in that example, and they can access the funds, if they choose to.
        In the case of a solid encryption scheme and a secured device with a complex passcode, no one can access the data, except you.

      • “Now imagine a terrorist or school shooter with schematics or a diary of events memorized in their heads that can’t be accessed. All that valuable, incriminating info on person device, that no one can access except that person, because it’s thought.”

        5th amendment. Maybe we need to get rid of that and legalize torture.

        A “phone” (any personal device) is like a hat. It hold things that are in your head and needs to be protected as such. No warrant should ever be able to compel anyone to unlock their personal devices for any reason.

  6. sardonick - 8 years ago

    Lukewarm, just like his terms in office. So glad Ears McGoo is out of office soon.

  7. Reg Guy (@mactoid) - 8 years ago

    GEEZUS…even the President is invoking “child porn” to subvert the constitution. We are truly screwed, folks…lets just hope we get even a small dab of lube when it comes….

  8. Kevin Davis - 8 years ago

    So, when a Republican president assumes the office in Late January 2017, will you still hold this same view? GW pushed for the NSA reading sms and other text messages. IMHO… why doesn’t Apple get off of its ‘high horse”, take the phone, open it up, and give the info to the Fed’s? They do it now, so what’s the issue? Apple “wants its cake, and to eat it as well”. You don’t think the NSA hasn’t already figured it out yet is waiting for the “deal” before it announces what was on that phone? Libtards, you want it both ways, when in reality it doesn’t work that way. Step away from the screen for awhile, you all need a reality check.

    • srgmac - 8 years ago

      Troll harder next time. There is no magic switch that Apple can flip to “open it up and give the info to the feds” — The feds want Apple to write software for them that would allow the device to be brute forced. I think it’s funny that a “conservative” thinks it’s OK for the government to force a private company to write software for them, against their will. I don’t know how you could possibly be more hypocritical than that! Limited government, my ass.

    • It’s NOT about this one iPhone! It’s about a new iOS for checking any iPhone. It’s true the NSA can open any iPhone. But like any secret service they are a State in the State. Which NO ONE can control with their own laws and rules! Therefore they will NEVER cooperate with the FBI and show publicly the technical possibilities they have. All administrations in any state never work together, it’s the rule of “who has more power?”. The most powerful will win. It’s the rule of nature and part of us human beings.
      Apple will loose on this! Whoever party will win the presidental vote. And if it’s not the USA, it will be another government elsewhere. The France is on it’s best way! And the rest of Europe too. As for the totallitarian governments they do it already with the help of US and EU companies like CISCO! Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia they all use this CISCO surveillance system (developed for IBM, to surveil their employees) to intercept any communication, even anonymous TOR browsing. Iran and China are very good at intercepting TOR users!

      • srgmac - 8 years ago

        I don’t think the NSA can open the iPhone — at least not on iOS 9. But, even if they could, I still do not believe this situation would be any different. If it were iOS 8 then yeah I believe they would.

  9. srgmac - 8 years ago

    “…then how do we apprehend …” — There is so much wrong with this line of thinking…This implies that the government was fully capable of apprehending all of these bad actors, until Apple came along, and now has made it impossible for law enforcement to do their job — this is so far from reality I don’t think I even need to bother going into it further.
    The real question here is, do you think the government should have the power to force a private company to write software against their will?
    As far as I am concerned, if you answer “yes” to this question, you are a big part of what’s wrong with this country.
    But think about this — Should the government have the power to force a newspaper to write something against their will also?
    What about TV News programs? Books?
    Where does it end?
    I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again — if the government wants this software, what is stopping them from hiring their own developers and writing it themselves? There is no ticking clock here — there’s no nuke about to go off and we need the information now. They have all the time in the world to write it.
    Even if you think the FBI should have the power to brute force the device, there’s no reason why Apple needs to be involved at all…They already have their own developers.

  10. leifashley - 8 years ago

    For the first time I agree with my friends in thinking we would have been a far better country without this fool at the helm.

  11. Mark Granger - 8 years ago

    Encryption is an absolutist concept. Data is either encrypted or not encrypted. A phone is secure or not secure. You can either have private data or data that can be read by governments and criminals. A bit can be either 0 or 1. The president is asking for your data to be a little bit insecure. They only want to decrypt some phones. These are the statements of people who are either ignorant or dishonest.

    • Moisés Pinto Muyal - 8 years ago

      More often than desired, some governments are criminals, and where police are part of the thieves.

      Citizens have no guaranties when ruled by tyrants, or in a tyranny.

      Where has gone “and that government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

      Democracy, does democracy can be possible in North Korea?

      Yes as long as they have every four years elections, thats what you call democracy; it really is not, but unaware people believes that is democracy.

      USA is a Police State, where mostly black people are shot first at sight by white police, and asked later. That’s really democratic.

      Fear is caused by weakness.

      Strong European Counties have not reacted spying their own people, to gather information.

      It may be or come out that USA is a weak or very weak country, just as North Korea, Iran, and your loved Rusia.

      • I’ll say it again like I’ve been saying for at least a decade. When polled whether I’m fearful of North Korea, I always answer no. I’m only fearful of one country on this planet and one government, the USA. Things have clearly not gotten any better with GWB out of the White House WRT race issues and security theater. Just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  12. pdixon1986 - 8 years ago

    Did obama read my comments… that is more or less what i have been saying…
    People just dont trust the FBI anymore and they have lost a lot of power… but i’d rather they have the means to catch the bad guys than Apple giving the bad guys the means to escape lawful justice…
    but im just the small voice in the background blah blah blah… i dont understand anything… blah blah blah

  13. modeyabsolom - 8 years ago

    Well he is a ‘Don’t rock the boat too much’ kind of guy. And a foreign policy pussy.

  14. elme26bih - 8 years ago

    Yeah Obama, you’re so cool. Give up the privacy protection of the people who voted for you. (Ironic)

  15. Paul Van Obberghen - 8 years ago

    The problem is that “the smallest number of people possible” may very well include at one time someone who will find a benefit, probably huge, at selling the key (or whatever it is) to criminals ready to shell enormous amount of money for that kind of things. It’s not because someone is a sworn member of a governement agency that this person may not go rogue (or just plain crazy) at some point. It is a risk, and it can’t be mitigated. Even the President of the United States, which is to my believe the most democratic country in the world, if not the only one, can end up doing something illegal, with the best intentions. Here the best intention is to go after criminals, and that is a noble one, but if by doing so the governement is endangering the privacy of the millions of its citizens that are no criminals what does that do? Criminals are in prison, granted, but private life of all the others is exposed. And that would be simple things like what party are you voting for, are you gay, do you have AIDS (or some other disease), etc,… Nothing criminal but informations that are and should remain private. At all costs.

    Also, let say the access would be restricted to the US governement security and law enforcement agencies alone. How long will it take before another governement summons Apple to get them the key to go after their own criminals. Failure to do so would exclude Apple of this country’s market. Quite an issue when we speak about China or Russia, not so democratic countries, where expressing an opinion not in the line of the governement gets you in jail for quite a while.

    Eventually, from the moment the key will become available to the governement(s), criminals will stop using that media for communicating and storing potentially incriminating informations. They’ll find other ways. Like they always do. They’re always ahead at finding ways to circomvent governemental scrutiny. They have alot of imagination and alot of money. Yet, for the rest of us, we’ll live with that Big Brother feeling at all time, knowing that our governements are able to have look into our private lives. Just for the sake of it.

    Strangely enough, in the US, the debate about the governement being able to access private lives of it citizens seems less important as the one about limiting availability of fire arms. Not severely limiting availability of firearms, isn’t that helping criminals too? A biiiiig way? And yet Americans seem to be willing to forget one part of their constitution about protection of their private lives but not on another one about the liberty of having a gun. Strange.

  16. waltertizzano - 8 years ago

    Not only you can take “absolutistic view” on encryption, but you should. Allowing the government to spy us is the worst thing ever and it won’t add ANYTHING to our safety and security.

  17. Leonson Stapleton - 8 years ago

    lets suggest that we create a backdoor into the white house servers and security systems, lets create a back door into the US government see if they feel the same way?

  18. Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
    -Benjamin Franklin

    • André Hedegaard - 8 years ago

      Please, stop overusing that quote in each and every single post about this FBI case. Its NOT relevant, serves no purpose and was said at a time when there was no tech!

  19. What an ignoramus. This petulant petty dictator-wanna-be’s reign of terror will soon be over.

  20. André Hedegaard - 8 years ago

    EXCELLENT!!!!!!!
    Apple MUST obey the law. Period. Final. Nothing more to add.
    Shame on you Apple :(

    • iSRS - 8 years ago

      Apple is obeying the law. Just for the record. If this gets to the SCOTUS, and Apple loses, and THEN refuses to do as asked, THEN AND ONLY THEN would they be breaking the law.

      So what company can we insert here to allow you to form your own opinions? Replace Apple with??? Because you clearly have disdain for Apple, so your judgement is clouded. Every comment I have ever seen you make, André, indirectly or directly claims Apple is breaking the law. They clearly are not. Can you cite the law they are breaking, André?

      • André Hedegaard - 8 years ago

        Ok, then I was mistaken, I thought they were refusing to comply with the law. I must have misunderstood something. Thanks for enlightening me :)
        When the time comes after Scotus, will it then be ok to bash Apple for disobeying the law?

        Just for the record, I don’t have disdain for Apple as a products company, only for their flawed morals and ethics.
        Examples: Promoting race diversity – when instead they should just hire people based on their skills than skin colour.
        Promoting gay rights and making a fanfare out of it – instead of just ignoring it, let it be, without protest.
        Using Ireland as a tax haven, in order to avoid paying taxes in the USA.
        Trying to make an appeal on the iBooks lawsuit that they lost – when clearly they were at fault trying to fix prices.

        These are some of the examples of their corrupt morals. I dont support that – although I do enjoy their products immensely!

      • iSRS - 8 years ago

        Yes, if the SCOTUS rules against Apple and they still refuse? Bash away

        Everything else they either are fighting for what they believe is right or comply once those avenues are exhausted.

  21. pretsky - 8 years ago

    “there are very real reasons that we want to make sure that government can’t just willy nilly get into everyone’s iPhones, or smartphones, that are full of very personal information”

    That’s called “getting a warrant” and they’ve been doing it since before you were even born.
    And they’ve been lawfully using them to tap phones, seize/hack computers, seize records, enter properties.
    It’s a settled issue to anyone with a brain.
    Typical lukewarm Obama.
    He has no desire to speak the truth.

    • Robert - 8 years ago

      There’s a big difference between getting a warrant and mandating that private companies build in access for law enforcement that compromises the security for everyone.

  22. Kira Kinski - 8 years ago

    Yeah, Like I really want anyone holding the keys to my home but myself.

  23. Kira Kinski - 8 years ago

    Yeah. Like I really want anyone holding the keys to my home but myself.

  24. Robert - 8 years ago

    So he admits the government DO want a “backdoor”.
    ‘How else will we catch criminals and make sure you pay your taxes’

    How foolish!
    Criminals have encryption and always will do regardless of what laws are passed. The government can not stop a criminal, be it child abuser or terrorist, from using encryption. If the iPhone is weakened the criminals will use something else or third party software.

    The government needs to accept the fact that we live in a world where data can be locked away so securely it is impossible to retrieve. It may as well be destroyed. Criminals have always been able to throw evidence to the bottom of the ocean, where is is practically impossible to retrieve or destroy evidence. This can be done digitally!

    The government has means within the law to collect evidence. Mandating private companies to build in government access is well outside of the law.

    If the US government has a backdoor Apple will be obligated to give every other government the same access. It is arrogant of the US government to think it can be just for them. There will be no control. If fact, why stop at governments, why not give access to UN agencies or human rights groups or private investigators that can make a case they are protecting people?

    This security protects us all from fraud and crime! To weaken it under the pretext of protecting us from crime is absurd!

  25. Peter Michelson - 8 years ago

    I understand why the government is so after a backdoor. However, I cannot hear it anymore. (Secret) data has to get in and out of a device. THAT’S where government agencies gotta do their job. If they’re after what’s IN a device they basically didn’t do their job in the first place.

  26. Those who would exchange freedom for safety will soon find they have neither.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.