David Reinertson

One more thing..

If Apple complies with the order, they will be creating a security hole, and violating the privacy rights of people all over the world. The proposed hack involves a new OS install. Remember that Apple iPhones install OS upgrades remotely.

Even if they only do it once, never do it again, even if they wipe the hacking computers and use benzodiazepines to cause antegrade amnesia in the coders, the European Union will not believe them. A promise from US authorities won't mean much, when we are obligated to keep secret surveillance secret anyway.

A security hole is a hole, even it the hacker promises never to use it. Apple will be in violation of EU privacy law.

Apple's response, I assume, would be to close this security hole in the next version of the iPhone, if possible. Make it impossible to load a new OS which can bypass hardware security.

Criminals, terrorists, and democrats in tyrannical regimes all over the world will, in the meantime, have to figure out how to adapt to the Apple betrayal. Either a more secure phone, more secure apps, or better manual security features.

Dodge1350 said:

Should be no surprise to anyone.  Apple already participated in anti-American activities back in 2000 when they got the government to do their dirty work for them with regards to the Microsoft monopoly case.  No one then, nor now, has more of a monopoly than Apple.  They rival the old railroad baron's of the 1800's when it comes to monopolies, but you don't see others bitching; not like they did.  And the day after the verdict in 2000, that's the day the dot-bomb happened.  How many jobs, how many companies and how much economic activity lost through no fault of their own in most cases, did this verdict supported and pushed by Apple, cause?  It's firkin ridiculous to me that Apple has any right to deny the government anything given what they've done in the past, and furthermore, even more hilarious at how many no brain consumers would support such and organization.  Better wake the f up people!

I've had to buy a Windows computer because a government mandate required Internet Explorer to upload mandated data. I had to borrow a Windows PC last week to access a cheaply designed interactive tutorial.
Microsoft used their 95% market share in operating systems to crush the competition in Windows web browsers. That's why their hands were slapped in 2000. That's also why government and cheap corporate web designers still sometimes code for Windows and IE so strictly that their Mac-owning or iPhone owning users need to go find a Microsoft product to comply with mandates.

I'm over my feelings about Bill Gates now, because he's using his ill-gotten gains to fight endemic disease in Africa. That makes my complaints seem trivial.