New poll says public sides with Apple over FBI in resisting iPhone unlock order

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Public support for Apple's refusal to unlock an iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook appears to be leaning in the company's favor, according to poll results published on Wednesday.




In online interviews run between Feb. 19 and 23, 46 percent of Americans supported Apple's resistance, while 35 percent disagreed, Reuters/Ipsos found. 20 percent of the poll group said they didn't know.

Positions appear to be closely linked to political views, since while 54 percent of Democrats supported Apple, only 37 percent of Republicans did. Likewise, 53 percent of Republicans agreed with the idea that the government should be able to peer into smartphone data to protect against terrorism, while the figure was only 46 percent for Democrats. Overall support for anti-terror smartphone snooping was also 46 percent.

Another influential factor appears to be age, as 64 percent of people between 18 and 39 sided with Apple.

Some 55 percent of the poll group believed that the government would use the ability to unlock iPhones to "spy on iPhone users." 28 percent disagreed.




While the FBI is asking only for a way to remove iOS' passcode retry limit, Apple has argued that doing so would fundamentally compromise the platform's security. With the limit off, investigators should be able to brute-force their way into Farook's phone without the device auto-deleting its data.

Apple is expected to rely on the First Amendment in contesting the unlock order, arguing that the FBI can't compel speech in the form of new computer code. The company may not have any precedent to fall back on, however.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 83
    The real question is:  "Should the FBI be able to access YOUR private conversations, emails, texts and photos whenever they want?"

    The government you "love" today has a way of becoming the government you fear tomorrow.

    On a related note, if Apple loses this one, the iPhone can no longer be considered a secure device for any purpose. We already know Andoid is crap.
    edited February 2016 jbdragoncincymaccaliGTRownsUbbhmagman1979jony0pmznumenoreanbadmonk
  • Reply 2 of 83
    this is so obvious it's a no-brainer. apple is on the right side of history. few companies advocate for our liberty and privacy like Apple does.
    cincymacjbdragonGTRownsUmagman1979baconstangjony0nolamacguynumenoreanbadmonk
  • Reply 3 of 83
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member
    Public support for Apple's refusal to unlock an iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook
    edited February 2016 chabig
  • Reply 4 of 83
    fallenjtfallenjt Posts: 4,053member

    Public support for Apple's refusal to unlock an iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook
    Sound so wrong AI. Apple didn't refuse unlock...they refused to build the back door.
    chabigGTRownsUration alpmznumenoreankevin kee
  • Reply 5 of 83
    1st question gives no back-story information to those who don't know the full facts.
    2nd question again does not detail the implications of the government having full unfettered access to all of your data at any time.

    Were the same people polled with the full facts and potential outcomes thereof I'm pretty sure things would swing apple's way.
  • Reply 6 of 83
    jbdragonjbdragon Posts: 2,305member
    The real question is:  "Should the FBI be able to access YOUR private conversations, emails, texts and photos whenever they want?"

    The government you "love" today has a way of becoming the government you fear tomorrow.

    On a related note, if Apple loses this one, the iPhone can no longer be considered a secure device for any purpose. We already know Andoid is crap.
    Unlike the iPhone, you can just buy a cheap Android phone and throw on any number of 3rd party Encryption programs onto it with no back doors that the U.S. Government couldn't do a single thing about. In the end, the only ones with real encryption are the terrorists! Of course those Android phones may run at half the speed with that encryption on, but why would they care.
  • Reply 7 of 83
    There's another poll The Loop reported that 63% agree with Apple. 

    http://www.loopinsight.com/2016/02/24/the-many-faced-apple-vs-fbi-poll-results/
    magman1979ration aljony0badmonk
  • Reply 8 of 83
    jbdragonjbdragon Posts: 2,305member
    fallenjt said:

    Public support for Apple's refusal to unlock an iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook
    Sound so wrong AI. Apple didn't refuse unlock...they refused to build the back door.
    It's pretty much the same thing.
  • Reply 9 of 83
    The real question is:  "Should the FBI be able to access YOUR private conversations, emails, texts and photos whenever they want?"

    The government you "love" today has a way of becoming the government you fear tomorrow.

    On a related note, if Apple loses this one, the iPhone can no longer be considered a secure device for any purpose. We already know Andoid is crap.
    Whenever they want??? What are you talking about? They would still require probably cause. If law enforcement just ran up, grabbed your phone and began to pull your data it would fall under illegal search and seizure. The same laws that protect you from having law enforcement just come in to your house and search it would be used to protect your data on your phone. Your collection of dick pics are of no concern to the government.
  • Reply 10 of 83
    We have such short memories.  Once again we're one big terror attack in the US away from everyone then complaining about why the government hasn't done enough to protect us.  Well they're (gov) trying to do something but we don't want to unlock a freakin' phone?!  Come on people.  Get over yourselves.  No one cares about your uninteresting personal lives.
  • Reply 11 of 83
    schlack said:
    this is so obvious it's a no-brainer. apple is on the right side of history. few companies advocate for our liberty and privacy like Apple does.
    what do you think cook would say if there were an iPhone that had information on it regarding an armed terrorist attack on their headquarters?
  • Reply 12 of 83
    Refreshing to know people are finally waking up to the fact that government = EVIL!
    magman1979
  • Reply 13 of 83
    GTQGTQ Posts: 1member
    Apple is wrong and the people backing Apple are wrong. When a member of their family or someone close to them is murdered, will they take the same position if the name of the killer is on a locked Iphone. The killer walks free if the phone is not unlocked.
  • Reply 14 of 83
    fallenjt said:

    Public support for Apple's refusal to unlock an iPhone 5c used by San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook
    Sound so wrong AI. Apple didn't refuse unlock...they refused to build the back door.
    You are correct. The article's author is mischaracterizing what Apple has been asked to do by the FBI. An editor review would catch these things.
    jfc1138ration alhlee1169
  • Reply 15 of 83
    ezdiv said:
    We have such short memories.  Once again we're one big terror attack in the US away from everyone then complaining about why the government hasn't done enough to protect us.  Well they're (gov) trying to do something but we don't want to unlock a freakin' phone?!  Come on people.  Get over yourselves.  No one cares about your uninteresting personal lives.
    The majority of gun owners in the United States do not own guns as part of a plan for armed revolution against the US government, they do so for personal protection from criminals who would harm them and their families.

    Likewise, the majority of smartphone owners who encrypt their phones do not do it to hide their information from the government, they do so for personal protection from those who would steal that information and use it steal the person's identity and money and harm them and their family.

    Why are Americans comfortable allowing everyone to own guns knowing that criminals use them to kill people, but they oppose allowing everyone to use encryption because criminals will also use encryption?

    As the NRA loves to say about guns, when encryption is made illegal only criminals will have encryption.
    edited February 2016 hmlongcocwoloszynskimagman1979ration albaconstangjony0badmonk
  • Reply 16 of 83
    jbdragon said:
    The real question is:  "Should the FBI be able to access YOUR private conversations, emails, texts and photos whenever they want?"

    The government you "love" today has a way of becoming the government you fear tomorrow.

    On a related note, if Apple loses this one, the iPhone can no longer be considered a secure device for any purpose. We already know Andoid is crap.
    Unlike the iPhone, you can just buy a cheap Android phone and throw on any number of 3rd party Encryption programs onto it with no back doors that the U.S. Government couldn't do a single thing about. In the end, the only ones with real encryption are the terrorists! Of course those Android phones may run at half the speed with that encryption on, but why would they care.
    Do you think you can't do that with a Third Party App on the iPhone as well ? Stay with Android and hopefully soon someone will expose all you private conversations, photos, messages and everything else you store on your Android. The reason you don't hear about FBI going after Google or Android phone makers is because any hack can root an Android easily gain access to files without the phone password. Sure enough later versions of Android are more difficult to that too but still doable! https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/symantec-mobile-encryption/id450235714?mt=8
    edited February 2016 cincymacration aljony0hlee1169
  • Reply 17 of 83
    Since when does a company or person get to say "no" to the government just because they disagree with the request?
    Apparently Apple thinks they are above the law and that their business proposition is more valuable than other people's lives.  Throw Cook in jail for his refusal to comply ... and also for good measure, for being self-absorbed and narcissistic.


    bikeboatskimedv4380
  • Reply 18 of 83
    ezdiv said:
    We have such short memories.  Once again we're one big terror attack in the US away from everyone then complaining about why the government hasn't done enough to protect us.  Well they're (gov) trying to do something but we don't want to unlock a freakin' phone?!  Come on people.  Get over yourselves.  No one cares about your uninteresting personal lives.
    Just give the government keys to your front door and let them come in as they feel like it; This is not about one phone; The FBI has made plenty of requests now; About 12 phone; For much smaller crimes; Soon they will want access to your phone just because you were speeding and now they want to check your phone to make sure that you haven't been speeding for the last 12 months via your phones sensors; Yeh that may sound dumb but at this rate it will come to that over the next decade, if we don't stand up to them now!!
  • Reply 19 of 83
    jbdragon said:
    The real question is:  "Should the FBI be able to access YOUR private conversations, emails, texts and photos whenever they want?"

    The government you "love" today has a way of becoming the government you fear tomorrow.

    On a related note, if Apple loses this one, the iPhone can no longer be considered a secure device for any purpose. We already know Andoid is crap.
    Unlike the iPhone, you can just buy a cheap Android phone and throw on any number of 3rd party Encryption programs onto it with no back doors that the U.S. Government couldn't do a single thing about. In the end, the only ones with real encryption are the terrorists! Of course those Android phones may run at half the speed with that encryption on, but why would they care.
    HUH???!
  • Reply 20 of 83
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    adm1 said:
    1st question gives no back-story information to those who don't know the full facts.
    2nd question again does not detail the implications of the government having full unfettered access to all of your data at any time.

    Were the same people polled with the full facts and potential outcomes thereof I'm pretty sure things would swing apple's way.
    It doesn't help that the anti-Apple AMERICAN media is spinning facts as a negative. Some are even accusing Apple of sharing info with the Chinese governement based on %100 made up sh*t. I've never seen America hate one of it's own homegrown companies as much as they hate Apple. Donald Duck on the other hand is demanding we stop buying Apple products and use cheap Korean knockoffs instead. Sad.

    It seems the media would give up our rights forever just for a chance to sh*t on Apple.
    ration aljony0hlee1169palomine
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