The Core Of Matter
NBC News
In early December of 2015 a mass terrorist attack occurred at the Inland Regional Center targeting a holiday party in San Bernardino, California. It left 14 dead and 22 seriously injured. The attackers (an Islamic couple)were later killed in a shootout with the police. Between the months of December 2015 and January 2016 an iPhone was recovered belonging to one of the attackers. It is known for a fact, that after failing ten times to try an access an iPhones password the phone will completely wipe it content/data clean. The FBI knows they will not be able to hack the phone in just 10 tries...so they turned to Apple wanting them to create a software to hacked their in use encrypted software (IOS), allowing the FBI to further search the phone. A California judge recently ruled the Apple has to help the FBI crack the code on the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters. So the big question is if Apple should help hack the iPhone or not? According to Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, Apple “has no sympathy for terrorists” and the “company would oppose the ruling” (http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/ ). Apple has said this non-existing software would have to ability to hack into any iPhone, especially if put into the wrong hands. Meanwhile the government can say all they want reassuring the non-existing software would be used only on this particular iPhone, but many people believe that will never happen. Even if Apple wanted to help, they couldn’t as they have purposefully developed the encryption to be so tough for the customers privacy, even the company itself can’t break it. With this debatable topic rising, many Apple customers fear their privacy or personal information being invaded. “For many years, we have used encryption to protect our customers’ personal data because we believe it’s the only way to keep their information safe”(http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/). Also Apple believes creating this new software would only put their customers in greater risk of being harmed. As CEO Tim Cook said “Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them.” Therefore Apple should not help the FBI.
Not everyone agrees on the same things. “Technology companies should be forced to cooperate with law enforcement in terrorism investigations”(http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/san-bernardino-shooting/bill-gates-backs-fbi) said Bill Gates as he supports the FBI in this “battle”. Meanwhile the FBI is putting forward The All Writs Act of 1789. Meaning the FBI would be able to make Apple add new capabilities to the running system and abstract security features together allowing a passcode to be input electronically. Don’t forget the judge ruling Apple to help the FBI hack into iPhone. Getting this information "Is no different than ... should anybody ever have been able to tell the phone company to get information ... should anybody be able to get at bank records," the Microsoft founder said (MSFT, Tech30). He is explaining that hacking into this iPhone and getting information, shouldn’t be different than anybody asking for information from banks, insurance companies etc. Lastly this iPhone belongs to a terrorist whose phone could contain further information on a terrorist group, plans, networking and more. If it does contain this such information is could help the rest of the world as terrorism is an ongoing problem right now.
I believe Apple should deny helping the FBI as they have said they have done every possible solution they could to help up to law. But more importantly it’s protecting people’s privacy and personal information. As said earlier, if this possibly new software gets into the wrong hands it can cause a lot of damage/problems. I think the FBI’s only excuse to further investigate this iPhone is because it belonged to a terrorist. I wonder if Apple would lose customers if they decided to create a new software to hack the encryption and iPhone allowing any iPhone to be able to be hacked therefore jeopardizing customers privacy and information? If so why?
What will happen to the world of technology if this problems arises in other big companies in the near future? Could it cost these companies money (in a bad way)?
I think Apple would lose their customers because no one wants their information being read by someone Apple wants their customers to be safe and feel protected, “The same engineers who built strong encryption into the iPhone to protect our users would, ironically, be ordered to weaken those protections and make our users less safe” http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/. They don’t know and if you have very personal information about where you live people could easily know where you live and maybe kidnap you.
ResponderEliminarI think it could ruin our future because someone would hack everyone’s phone, and it would cost companies a lot of money to resolve this problem.
I think Apple would loose their customers because they want to feel like they can trust the company to keep their information safe. I wouldn't want to think that my information could be in the hands of a criminal. "Customers expect Apple and other technology companies to do everything in our power to protect their personal information, and at Apple we are deeply committed to safeguarding their data." http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/
ResponderEliminar2. I think that it would ruin our future because no one will be able to trust the company just in case a criminal can hack your phone.