Apple fights FBI in Court order to break iPhone encryption with breach prone ‘back door’

It’s set to be the greatest battle of 2016. On one end, we have Apple, a leading technology firm trying its best to stand by its customers by ensuring their privacy. On the other end, we have FBI, backed by the US Government, trying to carry out an investigation trying to ensure justice is meted out. Politicians have taken the obvious side; Tech CEOs have also sided with their own. Who will win the battle? Or will it escalate into a full blown war?

This long standing dispute was reignited when Apple rejected a judge’s order to help the FBI hack into the encrypted iPhone system of Syed Rizwan Farook who killed 14 people in San Bernadino, California with the help of his wife. It is said that the couple carried out the attack on behalf of ISIS.

This new development prompted a lot of responses from the government, tech analysts and Tech CEOs. Government officials asked why Apple was protecting an ISIS terrorist and reminded them they had a duty towards their country. Apple supporters among them billionaire Mark Cuban, Mark Zuckerberg, Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai and Jark Dorsey lauded Apple’s refusal to give in to the government’s demands.

Apple’s biggest fear is that creating the software FBI requires would not only be deadly if it comes to the wrong hands but it would also infringe on customer’s privacy. Analysts have warned that giving in to FBI’s demands will cost Apple billions and that not much information can be obtained from Syed Farook’s phone.

The Technology industry is one of the greatest pillars of the US’s economy. This battle sets a dangerous precedent that could have disastrous long reaching effects. We can only wait and see which way, the wind will blow. Read more here and here.

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