In a surprise development, Apple has hired back renowned security expert Jon Callas, as part of the company’s continued efforts to refresh its core security team.
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Apple refused to provide any assistance to unlock an iPhone, which was reportedly used by the San Bernardino gunmen few months back.
Apple, Google and other companies have repeatedly faced requests and orders from the government demanding access into these devices. The company did not say what his new role at Apple is, now did Callas comment when approached by Reuters.
The cases were dropped after the authorities managed to access the iPhones without Apple’s help, but the political debate over encrypted technology continues.
A Senate committee, meanwhile, is mulling legislation to require companies to help law enforcement agencies bypass encryption.
Callas has previously spoken out against tech firms being forced to break open their products for law enforcement, but he is thought to favour a compromise approach, where law enforcement can take advantage of undisclosed software vulnerabilities to hack tech systems, providing they have a court order and they disclose the vulnerability afterwards, so it can be patched.
Apple seems to be banking on one of their former employees to bring additional security and encryption to their ecosystem. For those unfamiliar, Silent Circle is a company that works to protect phone calls from eavesdroppers, while Blackphone develops Android-powered phones that put security and protection of user data first. Nevertheless, people have concerns over hacking of their phones despite the fact that both the companies are well known for increasing the security of its products.
Earlier, Callas had continued with his zeal of devising better security measures to ensure enhanced privacy for the masses in the digital age.
Social medias like Facebook, WhatsApp have also enforced the encryption which making it harder for law enforcement to access their information.
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Silent Circle is a security company that offers encrypted software services, as well as secure devices like the Blackphone and the Blackphone 2.
