Apple could technically build a backdoor into the iPhone. But could they do it without serious repercussions? Absolutely not. I completely agree with Tim Cook on this matter – there should be no backdoors or special circumstances that sacrifice everyone’s encryption and personal safety to provide access to data that will not measurably help law enforcement catch bad guys. A backdoor for one is a backdoor for all, and the US government cannot just pick and choose who gets the right to privacy. Anything digital cannot be contained, if there is one instance of it, the Gini is out of the bottle and cannot be contained – like a virus.
To adhere with the court order in question, Apple would be risking imminent damage to its reputation and its business. Sensitive consumers – not to mention the bad guys – will merely switch to mobile phones that the FBI can’t control, such as Samsung or other Android-based phones.
What Apple is doing by taking a stand against the US government on encryption is what every tech company should be doing. And the government should listen. As Cook mentions, if the proposed anti-encryption software got into the hands of the wrong person, any and every iPhone user would be at risk for having their personal data compromised. This case should open Americans’ eyes to the dangers behind encryption backdoors, and serve as an epiphany for policy-makers to stand up for the privacy of this country’s data.
