On the media: What's Really going on between Apple and the FBI.

This week I listened to the segment Apple vs. The FBI. A very timely post seeing as we recently spoke about security in class. To me, this is not a question of security, nor is it about abiding to a court order. This issue is about the government setting a precedent, and thanks to an open letter from Apple, a public who isn't really buying it. 

According to the FBI they are wanting to unlock Farook's phone so they can see his contacts to prevent further acts of terrorism. On the surface that sounds like a just cause and initially most of us agree that Apple should comply. As of right now, users set their passwords and when they die their passwords die with them. However, there is something left behind, metadata. Loads and loads of metadata. The FBI has already seen it, it appears there is no contact with anyone overseas. Still, the FBI demands Apple to write a code that doesn't exist. This code would allow the government to shoot an infinite amount of password guesses until the phone unlocks itself. Even though this is a special request this new code could be used on any iPhone once it's written. 

 Here are the problems if Apple chooses to comply:

1. Apple is writing a code that doesn't exist, an unnecessary code. The FBI has already accessed the metadata from this particular phone. The NSA has access to petabytes of transmitted data, so much data we can't begin to comprehend. Yet the FBI still presses this code being written even through the information is already accessible. 

2. If Apple were to write this code it would be applicable to all iPhones, not just terrorists. It runs the risk of being leaked and soon anyone who understands basic coding could have information to anyone's information. The nation runs the risk of facing a huge privacy breech of its citizens

3. Apple itself believes that this request is a slippery slope. This is a privacy breech that could lead to access to health records, financial records, microphones etc. without the users knowledge. 

4. Anyone who understand basic law knows this case will be cited, this court order to will be cited. If Apple chooses to write this code it will then be used as a precedent for future cases. This is a problem because it can affect future cases on a much larger scale. 

I clearly believe Apple needs to hold their grounds on this issue. Their behavior and willingness or unwillingness to comply will set an example for years to come.