[ot-caption title= “Apple challenges FBI orders in court to protect customer security. (via Pixabay/StartupStockPhotos)”]

Recently, a controversial story in the media revolves around tech titan Apple Inc. and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While many may be aware of the case itself, it seems that the complexity of the issue as well as depth have been elusive.  So, here is an attempt to clarify and examine the present situation between the government and the one of the largest companies on the planet.

To fully understand the scenario, one must look back to the San Bernardino terrorist attacks that occurred in California in December of last year. These acts of terror (a mass shooting and attempted bombing) proved to be extremely violent and gruesome, with the death of 14 individuals. Since, the FBI has opened a counter-terrorism investigation into the attacks that were conspired by Tashfeen Malik and Syed Farook. In order to gain insight into these individuals, the government agency requested the assistance of Apple.  This is because the terrorists had Apple devices, giving the powerhouse company information and possible insight into what inspired these attacks.  Apple complied with various subpoenas and warrants and handed over all information that was in their possession.

However, the issue arose when the FBI requested that Apple created what Apple called “a backdoor to the iPhone.” In turn, Apple penned an open letter to their customers regarding security. A “backdoor” would provide the subsidiary of the Department of Justice with a variant of Apple’s iOS operating system that could be placed on smartphones and other devices in question in order to bypass key security features of their electronics. The iPhone company contends that this is a coercion beyond the releasing of information.  It forces the company to build a novel piece of software that presently does not exist and has the potential to be quite dangerous in the hands of other individuals. Because of this, Apple had to challenge the government and even a federal judge who ordered the company to create this software. Such a precedent of government compulsion to companies to create non-preexisting software would be historic and powerful. Backed by the support of fellow large Silicon Valley companies, Apple continues to push back and decided to appeal the decision.

Conversely, the prosecution states that the request is a relatively mild one that is well within the capabilities of Apple and its engineers. Additionally, claims are being made that Apple is simply resisting as a public relations benefit as the integrity of Apple’s products, namely the iPhone, would be hindered by the fact that a means of bypassing integral phone security would exist. As such, the federal prosecutors argue that Apple is merely challenging the decision in order to maintain sales and profits for itself. Once an appeal went through, a New York magistrate sided with Apple saying that court ruling was wrong, which was then appealed by the Justice Department.

Ultimately, complicated issues and questions of government power and persuasion like these have notable longterm implications that must be considered and must be decided by society as a whole. It is our collective view on security versus privacy that plays the biggest part in these battles between public and private sector. To this day, issues of government access and control over decisions and our private lives reign supreme in political discussions and debates. While even President Obama has spoken out and instilled his belief that compromise is of paramount importance, these new questions regarding the technological sector are fascinating and consequential for our society that challenge our values and make us question in what we truly believe and value.

Sources: Apple, The New York Times, Fortune  Photo Source: Wikimedia, Pixabay