Apple says even its own staff can not access the data – a move the company made following the Edward Snowden revelations into government surveillance.
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“Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise users’ privacy”, Pichai tweeted after calling Cook’s post “important”.
2/5 We know that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face significant challenges in protecting the public against crime and terrorism. “The Constitution does not permit the government to force companies to hack into their customers’ devices”.
He further raised a call for open and thoughtful discussion on this issue. People have been waiting to see what stance Google would take and whether the company would back Apple.
“We must not allow this unsafe precedent to be set”. WhatsApp cofounder Jan Koum also criticized the order, stating that “our freedom and our liberty is at stake”.
Less than 24 hours after Apple CEO Tim Cook issued an open letter opposing a judge’s order for Apple to help access a San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone, Google’s CEO has chimed in on the matter.
On Tuesday, Apple was ordered by Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym of the Federal District Court for the District of Central California to bypass security functions on Farrok’s cell phone. The FBI hasn’t been able to access the smartphone because it is passcode-protected.
The FBI wants Apple to help it access an encrypted iPhone used by Syed Farook, who along with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, carried out the mass shooting in San Bernardino in December.
A growing court battle between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Apple could have a big impact on your privacy and personal security. The FBI has a legitimate need for the data and Apple should work with the government to find a way to make this work. On the campaign trail, Republican Donald Trump said he agreed “100 percent with the courts”.
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Miller said the government can get a search warrant for your cell phone just like they can for your home.
