New York – The Department of Justice (DOJ) isn’t happy with technology giant Apple Inc. (NYSE:AAPL) after the company refused to access the data on an iOS device currently taking part in an investigation. However the DOJ has dismissed Apple’s argument due to a lack of evidence by its part.
While intending to execute a search warrant on a suspect indicted for possession of methamphetamine, the U.S. government has asked Apple to unlock an iPhone device and allowing access to the information contained in it. But the company has stated that it would be nearly impossible for it to access the data on a passcode-locked iOS device running iOS 8 or later and even if possible it would not feel comfortable doing so as to not tarnish the trust it shares with its customers.
Despite having the “technical ability” to help law enforcement unlock older phones, Apple argues that decrypting a phone in one case would set a precedent that would only burden the company in the future, taxing its resources, employees, software, and equipment.
“This burden increases as the number of government requests increases.” Apple said in a press release.
Lack of evidence
Apple argues that aiding government requests for user data would hurt its reputation to the public due to the level to which sensitivity to digital privacy has risen in the last few years. The company says that this harm to its reputation could have a lasting economic impact.
The DOJ did not doubt before rejecting this argument, again saying Apple provided no concrete evidence to support its claims that reputational concerns constituted an “undue burden” as defined by law.
The arguments from the goverment are about the relationship that Apple has to the phone and the case. They say that Apple designed, manufactured and sold the phone they need to unlock to keep their investigation going, and also they wrote and own the software the company argue to be incapable of accesing. This to show that Apple should do what they ask, given that all this facts prove that apple should have a mechanism to help. This arguments were presented before the U.S Magistrate Judge James Orenstein as reported by Reuters.
Source: Reuters