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Just for the record, the FBI isn't saying "don't worry, no one will see it, just us." as they aren't requesting a copy of the signed code. They're just requesting that Apple use it to unlock the device.

So the FBI's ability to secure the code isn't currently relevant.




Considered in isolation, it isn't relevant. But the basis of this decision will serve as a precedent to get Apple to unlock a multitude of phones. And that's not Apple's business. Apple, or any other company, is not a branch of law enforcement, and cannot be conscripted to perform law enforcement's functions.


That's simply not true. Businesses of all stripes are conscripted all the time to gather data and turn it over to law enforcement. The government has very wide latitude in this area.


Gather data, which Apple already does and provides. Not write wholesale operating systems, sign them, and maintain them for only the government to use.


You make it sound like Apple is being asked to put a man on the moon. They're being asked to comment out a few lines of code and recompile. Apple's objections have nothing to do with the volume or difficulty of work.


It sounds like you aren't very familiar with the actual ask; that's not at all what they are tasked with doing.

The FBI wants them to create an operating system that would run entirely from RAM without touching any of the flash memory on the device.




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