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Petition urges White House to support Apple in blocking government access to locked iPhones

Tim Cook WWDC 2015

A new We the People petition has been created urging the White House to “halt efforts that compel Apple and other device makers to create a “backdoor” for the Government to access citizens data” (via MacReports). 

The petition comes as Apple CEO Tim Cook this week penned an open letter detailing why the company is resisting a demand from the FBI to unlock a device belonging to a suspect in the high profile San Bernardino shooter case.

The United States government has demanded that Apple take an unprecedented step which threatens the security of its customers…The FBI, is demanding that Apple build a “backdoor” to bypass digital locks protecting consumer information on Apple’s popular iPhones…We the undersigned, oppose this order, which has implications far beyond the legal case at hand.

The controversy and Cook’s letter followed complaints from the FBI that it couldn’t crack Apple’s encryption on the iPhone and Apple’s refusal to assist the courts and agency in doing so.

In his open letter, Cook defended Apple’s long running stance of not providing access to personal data to government under any circumstances and said that complying with the FBI’s request would be “‘an unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers.” Cook continued:

The implications of the government’s demands are chilling. If the government can use the All Writs Act to make it easier to unlock your iPhone, it would have the power to reach into anyone’s device to capture their data. The government could extend this breach of privacy and demand that Apple build surveillance software to intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge.

Since Cook’s letter, several organizations have voiced support for Apple including statements issued by The Electronic Frontier Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Amnesty International.

And while it certainly would be possible for Apple to bypass the iPhone’s security — either with a master key of sorts like the FBI wants or through other methods — our own poll shows that an overwhelming amount of you — around 86% of 17,000 and counting votes — support Apple and do not support any type of method of government access to data on iOS.

But so far, at the time of publishing, the We the People petition only has under 100 signatures. Another 99,900 to go before March 18th in order to get the White House’s attention and the required response. You can sign it here.

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Comments

  1. applenthusiast - 8 years ago

    LOL this is cute. A petition for the government to restrict itself from what it can do. Sorry. The government only gets bigger, not smaller.

    • chasinvictoria - 8 years ago

      This isn’t actually true: the size of the US government shrank under the Clinton administration.

      • applenthusiast - 8 years ago

        If you’re referring to the amount of employees the government had then yes under Clinton he reduced headcount by less than 1% based on most reliable estimations. But in regards to “big brother” self limiting when it comes to surveillance and investigations? The hungry hungry government only wants more access.

    • Ramon Solorio - 8 years ago

      it’s a statement. some will take seriously in public circles.

      • applenthusiast - 8 years ago

        The “We the People” website is a big joke in Washington. The White House has already responded publicly to the requests to back off Apple and the governments reply? “LOL NOPE!” One does not need a White House response to a petition to know where they stand.

  2. Jake Becker - 8 years ago

    Will old and out of touch career politicians decide whether a private company which has done more for the country than they’ve ever dreamed of gets to provide security for their customers? Film at eleven.

  3. ne1awake - 8 years ago

    I swear I read(probably here) that the government had been able to hack our phones and computers to turn on microphones and webcams without our knowledge. Even had intercepted shipments of iPhones and inserted spy software on them. As far as I’m concerned, the government has already overstepped its bounds, and now it wants Apple to do their work for them. It is infuriating!

  4. Mike Knopp (@mknopp) - 8 years ago

    From everything that I have read, including the articles that you linked to, “it certainly would be possible for Apple to bypass the iPhone’s security,” isn’t a completely accurate statement.

    What I have seen said is that Apple could essentially shutoff the safety features on number of failed attempts and the cooldown period between attempts.

    This doesn’t bypass the iPhone’s security, it just weakens it and makes a brute force attack feasible. It isn’t like the FBI could hand the phone over to Apple and in a few minutes they could unlock the phone.

    Even your own article on it states, “All this supposes that iPhone is only protected by a 4-digit passcode, however. If a complex password was used, no-one in the FBI would live long enough to gain access.” And this is with Apple’s help.

    So, please try to make it clear that even if Apple were to fold and establish this dangerous precedent, it will only yield anything useful if the terrorist was stupid or careless. Which, given the fact that they destroyed all of their other phones and hard drives doesn’t speak to well for their ignorance or negligence in the issue.

    Essentially, the FBI is wanting to take this major first step on what is nothing more than a fishing expedition on the off chance that they were stupid enough to put something sensitive on their work phone and only protect it with a simple four digit pass code.

    I’ll be signing the petition now. I think that we have given up more than enough of our liberty for some fleeting temporary safety.

  5. André Hedegaard - 8 years ago

    Donald Trump dosent support this notion. When he becomes president, he’ll overturn this ruling. He says that security is top priority and will pressure Apple to do this.

    • chasinvictoria - 8 years ago

      Who gives a flying flip what that blowhard bigot thinks? He’s running for king, not president, and won’t be either. Ever.

      • André Hedegaard - 8 years ago

        He’s leading in the polls, so he may very well be the next president. He’s built a fantastic company, self financing his campaign, dosen’t accept Super-pacs. He’s spent so little already on ads and promotions for his campaign, whilst others have spent millions. Wouldn’t you want someone that has that economic sense to be president? To save money, make great investments e.t.c.? A lot of his points are on par with Bernie Sanders as well, so I think he’d do quite well.
        I just hope you don’t feel offended by some of the things he says. He just says it like it is (how he sees it) and he’s often right.

    • 89p13 - 8 years ago

      Take your Political rants someplace else. Listening to a Donald Trump speech is like listening to A Phish concert – just endless riffs on the same rant!

      • André Hedegaard - 8 years ago

        So you admit you also listen to Donald Trump?

        Anyway, the point I was trying to make was that he spoke specifically about security and about Apple and in this regard Donald Trump said he’d pressure Apple. Which isn’t as bad as Ted Cruz saying that Apple should make some iPhones locked and others sold internationally should be unlocked.

        So its not a rant, and just ignoring what Donald Trump says will be consequential for your future.

    • I agree with others take your uninformed and absolutely wrong comments somewhere else. Trump loves to tout that he self-funds his campaign, but that is absolutely NOT the case. Q3 Federal ElectionCommission (FEC) filings show that Trump received approximately $3.8 million in campaign donations between July 1, 2015 and September 30, 2015 (http://docquery.fec.gov/pres/2015/Q3/C00580100.html – that is what we call a citation that actually backs up what one is saying). Not exactly chump change when is campaign spend approximately $4 million during the same time period. Trump has made a habit of calling ever other candidate a liar, but who seems to be distorting the truth now?

      • André Hedegaard - 8 years ago

        You need to listen to what the man is saying. He says he received some donations from private people and he can’t return the money, because it’ll offend them. He repeatedly says he dosen’t want people to contribute and to stop sending him donations. I’ve never heard another candidate say such a thing.
        Is that the worst example you can give of the man? Really?
        Seems squeaky clean to me.

  6. bigern75 - 8 years ago

    They want to get into 1 (one) iphone NOT every iphone/device. Let the FBI in to see what that P.O.S. terrorist was up to. 1 unlocked phone is not going to make the security come crashing down for anyone.

    • appgarlaschelli - 8 years ago

      That’s not how the digital world works.. Open one device, open every device.

      • hannahcrowder - 8 years ago

        What have you got to hide to pottential save lives!!

      • o0smoothies0o - 8 years ago

        @hannah if lives were worth freedom security and privacy, we wouldn’t have ever had soldiers die in wars. People will die, and everyone’s security and privacy isn’t a worthy sacrifice to save some people.

  7. 89p13 - 8 years ago

    This will certainly mak it harder for The BeltwayBoiz to ignore, though they may try to. If the World media gets involved it will be harder to operate in the dark, which is what those BeltwayBoiz prefer.

  8. hannahcrowder - 8 years ago

    We are talking about saving lives!! if the fbi want to hack my account and see conversations with my husband and mum happy reading to them – what do you all have to hide to potentially save lives I just don’t understand!

    • appgarlaschelli - 8 years ago

      It has taken ha many, many years to build a state that has as it’s primary objective to protect it’s citizens and their human rights. Part of that is the right of privacy. It is simply not acceptable that we all should give this right up just because *maybe* the fbi could find some useful information in one terrorism case.

      Don’t get me wrong, what happened was shocking and everybody (including Apple) is right in helping the Fbi, but this does not mean that we should give up our human rights we fight so long for.

      Besides that, criminals will always find a way to hide stuff from the authorities. They always have. They always will. The real victims here are the normal citizens, like you and me.

      • hannahcrowder - 8 years ago

        I’m sorry how are you and I a victim??? I am a victim because companies don’t help the fbi and get the terrorist! It’s as simple as that.

    • You have been brainwashed and are missing the point. It starts with 1 phone. It then becomes 2, 10, 100, all phones. There is never, ever, just one. Ever. The cons, far outweigh the pros in this case. Make every iOS device vulnerable to hackers/attacks just to possibly, maybe, perhaps.. catch a couple of bad guys? NO!

      • hannahcrowder - 8 years ago

        Missing the point – I’m never going to by Apple again! I just don’t understand why people have so much to hide! Maybe I live a boring life but if ANY one wants to hack into my account with the purpose of saving lives I’m A ok with that!

      • joneslife4 - 8 years ago

        You say it’s never ever just one as though this has happened before. Based on what are you making this prediction?

      • M Gage Morgan - 8 years ago

        @joneslife4 If you didn’t know, a similar backdoor that did (sort of) the exact same thing the FBI is requesting now existed prior to iOS8. When v8 came out, Apple announced it had sealed the backdoor closed, and received fire from the FBI. But, prior to iOS8, the FBI would technically have asked as many times as they had captured someone’s phone. So, more numbers than I could count that this has happened, I would assume. (I could get more complex, and yes, I am missing a few things here for the sake of simplicity).

        @hannahcrowder The FBI conveniently left out the fact that Apple had already offered to unlock the phone if the FBI delivered it to them. The FBI refused, then the issue we’re seeing now rises up. The FBI is now requesting that new code be written to unlock the phone, and then be delivered directly to the FBI. This is unreasonable, and then after reading you’re probably thinking: “But how do we know that Apple won’t mess with the evidence of a crime investigation?” Well, to start with, Apple claims: “We’re locking ourselves out of every iPhone with encryption because we believe your data is none of our business.” The FBI is trying to use counter-terrorism as an excuse to get around a beef started between the two in 2014.

        To me, the fact Apple is going to the extent to lock themselves out of all iPhones because it’s “none of their business” speaks to me as “the entire investigation is none of their business.” So, don’t try to say that Apple is going to mess this up, because they’re just about as angry with the terrorists as the FBI. But unlike the FBI, Apple might actually have a moral compass. I understand you’re listening to the government, but sometimes, you have to form your own opinion. The US government was initially “by the people for the people.”

        And one last thing: Everyone needs to stop with this whole “What are you hiding?” BS. Because that is NOT what this is about. The “I don’t have anything to hide.” is a sorry excuse for admitting you are too lazy to stand up for yourself and your rights. I don’t have anything self-incriminating to hide either, but do you expect me to leave my entire life out in the open for anyone in the government to just see without effort? No, you don’t. Some things just aren’t everyone’s business, and our government is going to bring down Silicon Valley and the entire US tech industry’s economy with it if they don’t quit trying to invade it.Quit being ignorant; if you want to be religious about every single word your government says, go over to North Korea, where you’ll probably put killed if you don’t follow what their government says religiously. (NOTE: Using the word ‘religiously’ in a very loose context; not in that of First Amendment)

    • Jake Becker - 8 years ago

      You’ve got the Internet – the most powerful tool of freedom and information ever created. If you don’t understand, it’s because you refuse to.

    • degraevesofie - 8 years ago

      Some of us have information that, in the wrong hands, would cost other people’s lives (innocent people who are already in dire straits). Let’s not add to their burden by removing one of the few secure communication outlets they (or, more frequently, their relatives) have.

  9. hannahcrowder - 8 years ago

    It’s so worrying that people think giving up your details is not worth finding a terrorist that could kill hundreds of people – I have to ask what is it that normal people have to hide? Are not human lives not more important than a few private texts

    • appgarlaschelli - 8 years ago

      You just really refuse to get the point. This is not about saving lives. People who want to do bad things, will always find a way to do them. The only people the fbi (and with them, every other organization or even hacker) is going to be able to spy on is normal people. If you still don’t get it, I’m really sorry for you but it just means you have no clue about how the internet works and I’m not going to waste my time trying to explain it to you another time.

    • arking553 - 8 years ago

      Hannahcrowder,

      Like many have stated, it’s not about 1 phone. There will be more in the future, plus other countries wanting access as well.

      Some people have their social security number stored in their phone. Their health data. Embarrassing pictures. Work email that includes top secret projects that shouldn’t get leaked. Extramarital Affair texts, emails, pictures. Bank account info. Sexual preferences. Should any of this be valued over saving lives…..in my opinion no, but creating the backdoor will make available times the government will not use it to save lives, but for other purposes.

      Then think about the FBI having agents that are willing to get a payoff from China or Russia who will want the backdoor Apple creates for the FBI. Im sure their are a few agents willing to steal and then flee to another country like if promised citizenship and $$$$$$$.

      Then there is the other point that Edward Snowden (the guy that stole NSA docs when he was working there and left america) made on twitter. If the United States force Apple to create a backdoor, encryption keys or whatever, then China will force Apple to do the same. Can you imagine China getting encryption keys for iPhones? or Russia?

      Another point about security. Russia considered banning Apple iPhones & iPads because they wanted the servers to be local. Why would Russia be concerned about Apple not having local servers? Im sure you know why.

      I’m all for saving lives but I can’t see starting the domino effect giving the FBI/Government this access. OPM was hacked (supposedly by China) and what was offered was credit watch services that alert you 48 hours after someone opens a new credit account. Have you ever had your identity stolen? Thousands of dollars in credit card spending you didn’t do? A car purchased with your credit?

  10. nonstoprug - 8 years ago

    17,000+ people need to go sign the petition then.

  11. jrv6 - 8 years ago

    Apple will lose this battle, both here and in countries with even more oppressive governments (including the country where the phones are built)
    It is useful to have this conversation and to specify how warrants should and should not be used to access digital information.
    In the end, Apple’s first responsibility is to its shareholders, so it will submit to any demand that meets the legal process in a country where it wants to operate.

    Meanwhile, it is good that Tim Cook is reminding us that warrants should be specific and that their justification should be made public after a reasonable period of time.

    Just as we can’t expect Government to protect our rights under all circumstances, we can’t expect Apple to be responsible for protecting our privacy forever. We need to take direct responsibility for our own secrets. Once we publish them on a convenient mass-information platform, we have compromised our own privacy.

    Apple is acting responsibly. It will end up complying, but (hopefully) with a few new safeguards in US (and probably EU) law.

  12. just1n12 - 8 years ago

    Jesus Christ this bill is a horrible idea, I hope it doesn’t get signed and Apple wins. Even though I’m Canadian I still stand by Apple because privacy is important, take away privacy to one iPhone you take away privacy to other iPhones.

  13. johnwwwatson - 8 years ago

    I hereby authorize Apple and Law Enforcement to unlock my phone as due process of search warrant because I am not a criminal or terrorist and I encourage everyone to understand this is no different than having your home or hard drive served with a search warrant. If a judge finds just cause for search warrant, only then, can law enforcement do their duty to protect us from criminals or terrorists.

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.