Last December’s San Bernardino terrorist attack not only left 14 innocent civilians dead but it also sparked an ongoing legal battle between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Apple Inc. on the subject matter of customer security.
The FBI was able to recover an iPhone that one of the shooters in the attack used but announced in February 2016 that they were unable to gain access to the phone’s data because of Apple’s advanced security measures.
The FBI asked Apple to create a new operating system that would override Apple’s current security features in order to gain access to the phone. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook released a public statement expressing that they do not have possession of such a program nor are they willing to create one. Cook said that creating a “backdoor” that bypasses an iPhone’s security measures could be dangerous technology in the wrong hands if the technique were to be duplicated.
Apple further argues that the FBI’s demands for Apple to create a “master key” in to a phone’s security system not only undermines years of advancements in security, but that it breeches an individual’s fundamental right to privacy. Should the federal law support the FBI’s demands for Apple Inc. to breech its customer’s privacy?
Join Nicholas Ogden, Makala Chapman and Rachel Stark on Thursday evening from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm for a live chat and have your say on the matter. Technology columnist Jesse Hirsh from CBC’s Metro Morning will also be on hand to share his thoughts, see you then!