metrix

GarryGR said:

I bought a Apple II computer in 1978 or 79 - I'm so old, I'm not longer sure what year it was! And, for a few years, I was an Apple developer. So I've taken pleasure with Apple's success; there were a lot of really tough years in Apple's early history, including after the introduction of the Lisa in 1983 and the MAC in 1984. But, I don't understand this idea that we need to allow people to hide info from the US agencies charged with preventing terrorism. I suppose it's this general distrust, to put it euphemistically, of GOVMENT so successfully propagated by the Republicans! But, I'm assuming, no one's so idiotic as to suggest that this isn't an appropriate governmental function?!

I'd like those of you who think Apple shouldn't provide help to the FBI for privacy reasons, to site specific examples of what you're afraid of the FBI doing with your secret personal info. It seems the arguments for the need for info to be totally inaccessible to the FBI always consists of some vague generalities; I'm at a loss, as to the need for this for law abiding citizens.

The challenges of our Homeland Security folks are monumental enough with out these constraints being placed on them. Even with complete access to all personal info, it's an impossible task. But, that doesn't justify not allowing them access to information that is highly likely to be pertinent to the task.

I'll give you a good reason. After 9/11 I went to get a boarding pass from the Kiosk and it didn't work, so after getting insulted by the ticket agent for not knowing how to work it, she said "let me see your ID". She promptly turned white and said " you are on the Federal Watch List, I need to get a manager". I thought they were joking. I was born in Texas, never been to jail, no crazy affiliations, don't own a gun, and voted in every Presidential election that I can remember. For over a decade I could not check in on line, I had to go to the ticket counter. Even after 10 years or so when i got back from Ireland, customs pulled me an my wife a side and questioned us. The only other guy in the room was of middle eastern descent. The Inspector General of the Justice Dept. reported that the Terror Screening Center of the FBI has 1,000,000 names in that database and it is growing by about 20,000 a month.

Let's say your boss asked the IT department to provide access to all the computers at the workplace. This allowed him to monitor real time what everyone was doing or saying in email, texts, etc. He finds out you are interested in starting a union so he fires you immediately or worse yet he trumps up a sexual harassment allegation to destroy your credibility.
We are running scared because the Patriot Act allows the government to basically claim anyone is a terrorist based on something that was on your phone or computer and you are gone.

prox said:

msantti said:

The iPhoe is quickly becoming the terrorists phon of choice.

Tim Cook is going to see a ice little spike in sales.

Terrorists now know that Apple has their back.

Apple will continue to allow the Chinese government access but will happily protect a person who kills Americans.

I can play too. Samsung is gathering intelligence from US government employees in cooperation with North Korea.

john673 said:

i find it insensitive for the victims of the families involved in the tragedy that apple are such jerks to capitalize on the situation to advocate for free speech..
Just take the freakin' iPhone from FBI unlock it and give it back to them 

You don't care what bit about these victims do you? You are pathetic to try and exploit this situation just to put Apple down. Your 41 posts are just spewing hatred toward Apple and stupid tax evasion. It's basically like someone moving to Nevada, Alaska, Florida,  to avoid paying state income tax. Are these people doing anything illegal? No! Are the states doing anything illegal? No! Yet people move these states because they have  huge tax advantages. Hey guess what corporations do the same thing. Apple, GE, Microsoft, Pfizer, IBM, Merck, Johnson & Johnson,Exxon Mobil, Google, Cisco, Procter & Gamble all have off shore cash holdings. 

volcan said:

genovelle said:

The US being a safer nation without back doors comment at the end sound more like leaning toward Apple. 

Personally I believe Apple probably has their own back door regardless of what they say publicly. Plug the lightning port into a Mac and run a couple shell commands with a 4096 bit key. Voila! 

What would be the purpose of Apple having a back door? If Apple can get in than probably someone else can too, so you build a lock where the key is thrown away.

Maybe someone can answer this question for me. If every Apple software engineer refuses to write a backdoor code how can it get done. Furthermore what if the task were to take 5 years of 50% man power working on the problem? Can the government bankrupt Apple in pursuit of something impossible. 
I think someone already said it. The FBI is afraid of Apple and it's followers and power, but I believe Tim is trying to do what he thinks is right and constitutional. 

When was the last time the FBI said we are sorry we made a mistake? This is a clear indication that they don't care one bit about these people they are just pawns for an end goal.