One of the main reasons why Apple is so dead set against creating a backdoor for the FBI on the iPhone is because of the precedent it will set. It means that if they do this one time, who’s to say that the FBI or other law enforcement agencies won’t come knocking and asking for the same treatment? More importantly, what kind of message will this send to the rest of the world who are closely watching this unfold?However the director of the FBI wants to reassure Apple that this will do nothing of the sort, and that it will not set a dangerous precedent for the future. In an open letter published by the FBI’s director James Comey, he says, “The San Bernardino litigation isn’t about trying to set a precedent or send any kind of message. It is about the victims and justice.”
He goes on to add, “We don’t want to break anyone’s encryption or set a master key loose on the land. I hope thoughtful people will take the time to understand that. Maybe the phone holds the clue to finding more terrorists. Maybe it doesn’t. But we can’t look the survivors in the eye, or ourselves in the mirror, if we don’t follow this lead.”
So far many tech companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp have come forward in support of Apple. The Department of Justice has also filed a motion to compel Apple to follow the orders of the court, calling Apple’s refusal to do so a publicity stunt. Will this letter from the FBI’s director change Apple’s mind? What do you guys think?
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