By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 5-18-20
Attorney General Bill Barr made Apple’s refusal to build government back-doors into information on its iPhone part of the lead of his announcement on the December shooting at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.
Barr said Apple’s practice of warrantless encryption is “dangerous” and “unacceptable.”
Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani shot and killed three U.S. sailors. Barr and Justice had sought Apple’s help in unlocking the phones, but Apple had designed the phones so that only the user could gain access, something Justice is not happy with.
Barr announced that there was a definite link between Alshamrani and Al Quaeda, which had been confirmed because after four months the FBI had unlocked his phones, but added a “no thanks to Apple” high in his announcement. DOJ had a warrant, but it took DOJ four months to crack the encryption Apple had built in to protect user privacy….
Barr said that the information secured by the FBI had already proven “invaluable” in protecting Americans, sending the clear message that those lives could have been protected months sooner had Apple built in a back door. » Read More