The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a subpoena to Apple, Inc to "unlock" a phone belonging to one of the terrorists who killed 15 people in San Bernadino last month. Apple has refused, citing privacy concerns as the reason. This has put Apple front and center in the middle of a huge debate. The FBI is concerned that the phone has been set to erase all data if the number of attempts to hack the phone exceeds 10. To override this, the FBI is asking Apple to write a new iOS specifically for this one device. This new operating system will have the capability to "unlock" the phone for investigators to examine the data that is on it. This is known as a "back door".
So far, this seems pretty straight forward. The FBI isn't asking that all future iPhones have a back doors; instead they are asking Apple to create software that will be used on just this phone. Apple believes that writing the code that could be downloaded onto this phone is the equivalent of opening Pandora's box. Once the software is written, others could use this software for other searches. As Apple makes this argument, skeptics believe that Apple's true motivation may be that such software will make the iPhone significantly less secure and vulnerable in the future. So the staunch decision is more about business than privacy itself. Perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle.
In the republican "Town Hall" last week, Ted Cruz said regarding this issue that "we can walk and chew gum at the same time." As the debate continues, many people jump to conclusions without really understanding the ramifications and impact of the perspective. The "walk and chew gum" line is rather simplistic. At the same time, There are benefits and pitfalls to both sides of this issue. Below are two articles that address a perspective
Credits:
http://www.wired.com/2016/02/doj-files-motion-to-compel-apple-to-cooperate-in-san-bernardino-case/
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