NEWS-03
customers when it refused to comply with the government, but the FBI`s
ability to hack into the encrypted iPhone raises new questions about the
security of Apple`s biggest-selling device.>
Syed Farook who along with his wife killed fourteen people in San
Bernardino last year. The government revealed in a court filing Monday that
it gained access to the phone without Apple`s assistance and is no longer
asking the court to order the tech company to help.>
DON CHAMPION: Good morning, Anne-Marie. Apple says it was looking out for the privacy interests of its customers when it refused to comply with the government, but the FBI`s ability to hack into the encrypted iPhone raises new questions about the security of Apple`s biggest-selling device.
(Begin VT)
DON CHAMPION: The FBI won`t say who helped it hack into the iPhone belonging to Syed Farook who along with his wife killed fourteen people in San Bernardino last year. The government revealed in a court filing Monday that it gained access to the phone without Apple`s assistance and is no longer asking the court to order the tech company to help. Investigators would only say the testing was carried out by highly skilled personnel and that the investigation of the phone`s data is ongoing.
SHARA TIBKEN (CNET News Senior Writer): We don`t know how they did this, and we don`t even know who the FBI is working with.
DON CHAMPION: The government`s request for help was met with stiff resistance from Apple. CEO Tim Cook argued that helping the FBI would set a precedent if it created a so-called backdoor that would allow investigators to gain access to the iPhone.
TIM COOK: We have a responsibility to help you protect your data and protect your privacy.
DON CHAMPION: The iPhone 5C running Apple`s OS9 system was issued to Farook by his employer, San Bernardino County. After December`s mass shooting, investigators could not crack the phone`s passcode. The agency asked for Apple`s help, saying it was the only way to gain access to the data. California Congressman Darrell Issa is critical of the way the government handled the case.
REPRESENTATIVE DARRELL ISSA: I would prefer that the FBI and everyone involved keep their knowledge of how this is closely held so that it doesn`t become a vulnerability on the street, and, at the same time, they`re not back asking Apple, essentially, to develop a backdoor again.
DON CHAMPION: But the government`s newfound ability to crack iPhone encryption raises a new series of questions.
SHARA TIBKEN: The broader issue is not over, though. The government and law enforcement are going to keep wanting access to phones. Tech companies are going to keep fighting back.
(End VT)
DON CHAMPION: Now, this is somewhat of a victory for Apple. The legal fight over this one iPhone appears to be over, but the company has not said whether it will try to find out who helped the government and how. Meantime, the FBI hasn`t said yet what new information Farook`s phone has revealed about December`s attack. Anne-Marie.
ANNE-MARIE GREEN: All right. Don Champion here in New York. Thank you very much, Don.
END
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