A collection of Apple iPhones and iPads fill a table during a news conference at New York City Police Headquarters, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016 in New York. “But Apple should give up”.
Advertisement
Apple is a frequent Trump target, most recently for building most of its devices in China.
Apple is widely expected to file an appeal against the court order sometime next week.
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump on Friday called for a “boycott” against Apple until the company complied with the court order.
“Boycott Apple until such time as they give that information”, Trump said at a campaign event in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
The FBI says it needs access to the data to fully investigate the attack and find any possible collaborators. “In the wrong hands, this software – which does not exist today – would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession”, wrote Cook.
Soon after, he tweeted, “Boycott all Apple products until such time as Apple gives cellphone info to authorities regarding radical Islamic terrorist couple from Cal”.
Going further, the Justice Department considers Apple’s refusal “to be based on its concern for its business model and public brand marketing strategy” above all else.
On Wednesday, in a 1,100-word letter to his customers, Cook accused the Justice Department of mounting a “chilling” attack on privacy and Internet security.
The government is seeking Apple’s help in disabling a feature that wipes data from the phone when too many attempts are made to guess the passcode.
Noting that Apple’s assistance is necessary, the DOJ said technicians from both Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation agreed that they were unable to identify any other methods that are feasible for gaining access to the “currently inaccessible data” on the phone. “And number two, there’s already encrypted software that exists, not only now, but in the future, created in other countries”.
Apple’s public statement makes it clear that Apple will not comply with the Court’s Order.
“I just thought of it”, he said.
“First of all, the phone is not even owned by this young thug, the phone is owned by the government”, Trump noted.
Meanwhile, bipartisan leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have invited FBI Director James Comey and Cook to discuss the issues surrounding encryption.
Advertisement
A new hearing in the case is set for March 22, according to Friday’s motion.
