Apple continued its efforts to reject the US government's national security agency's request to unlock the iPhone used by terrorists in the Dec. 2 shooting at San Bernardino. In fresh round of refusal via a post on its website titled "Answers to Your Questoins About Apple And Security," the company suggested that the government should "withdraw its demands" for a software-based "backdoor entry" to access private data on the terrorist's phone.
It also recommended the formation of a Panel of Experts or Government Commission which would evaluate the implications of federal demands on National Security and personal freedom of the people.
On Dec. 2, Syed Rizwan Farook along with his wife Tashfeen Malik had killed 14 of a holiday party, injuring 22 others. The couple were encountered by the local police, killing both. The Federal Bureau of Investigation had sought access to phone contents of the shooter, requesting Apple to disable passcode protections. However, CEO Tim Cook had refused the request, stating in an open letter that such an attempt to capture convicting evidence against the terrorist from iPhone will set "dangerous precedent."
The post also mentioned that Apple had never unlocked an iPhone thus far, despite court orders. However, the post mentioned that in a particular case, it had extracted data from an iPhone that ran on an older operating system, complying with a court directive. But with a fresh security policy update in 2012, Apple has secured the iPhone against such requests - iPhones running on its proprietary operating system, iOS version 8.0 and higher will not be compromised.
In the current case, all data were handed over to the investigating team, including a backup of the iPhone that the agents want the phone maker to crack.
Adam Schiff, a Democrat of the House Intelligence Committee said that the case "will ultimately" need Congress intervention, coupled with administrative and industry participation. The government hopes to bring further pressure on Apple, by allowing victims of the attack to file a brief before courts supporting US government's request to Apple.
