Pellius, legally this is a very simple issue. The FBI obtained a search warrant, issued by a judge to search the contents of ONE phone.
The warrant was issued based on probable cause, specific facts and specific circumstances related to one cell phone that was operated by one person. The FBI realized that they have only so many chances to try to crack the phones passcode. This is because apple phones have a security measure which erases the phones content if the wrong password is put in ten times. The FBI has asked apple to disable their security measure on this one phone so they can gather information about the couple who murdered 14 people in san bernadino.
This is not about every phone, it is not about making apple hand over their technology to the FBI, it is not about carte blanch authority for the FBI to search all phones. The FBI is not asking apple to decipher the passwword. All of that would not be authorized by a search warrant.
The FBI is asking apple to deisable the security measure on this one phone related to one specific event. It is not setting a precedent it's the standard by which all search warant have been issued for decades. The FBI already has the warrant they are asking for apples help.
Oddly enough if apple wins and the judge says apple cant be forced to unlock the security on this phone, then the FBI will have to figure out a way to break into the phone and if they do, they will then have the back door entry into everyphone. The FBI obviously has a strong case to search the phone. The judge may say to the FBI that they have the search warrant its upto tjhe FBI to figure it out on their own. I think apple picked the wrong battle to fight though in this particular matter. In my opinion apple looks like shit now for not helping out. I'd like to know what the family members of those 14 people think.
settle down, Harry Hamlin in the mid 80's
