What goes around . . . comes around.
For months, the U.S. government sought Apple’s (if not all of Silicon Valley’s) help in cracking the encryption barriers of the recovered cell phone of the San Bernardino terrorists. Apple refused. At stake and more important to it was the privacy of its customers. Or its image . . . and profits.
The government actually had to file suit against Apple to obtain what it was after. Apple turned its lawyers loose and were resisting at every turn and in every way.
I actually think the government’s suit would not succeed. The government may be able to compel a private party to reveal information it has, but I don’t think it can compel a private party to invent something it claims it does not have. My point is that Apple should have voluntarily cooperated with the government’s efforts to improve our security.
So the feds found some as yet unidentified party more cooperative who helped them crack the encryption code. At least for now, the help of Apple and Silicon valley in helping protect the American public is no longer necessary.
Apparently, Apple is embarrassed, that it’s all mighty and important encryption technology is not so mighty after all. Ironically, Apple now wants the federal government to tell it how it cracked Apple’s encryption technology and accessed the terrorists’ smartphone. So Apple can figure out how to come up with a more powerful encryption technology to once again thwart American security.
If the FBI won’t tell Apple what it wants to know, Apple has asked its lawyers to figure out how Apple can sue the government to get that information.
Let me see if I understand. Apple wouldn’t help the government. The government had to sue Apple, causing precious delay in time, and deployment of resources until it found another solution.
But Apple thinks the feds should now show Apple more cooperation than Apple showed the feds. So that Apple can once again assume a position of defiance and lack of cooperation with our security. Gives new meaning to the word “Chutzpah,” doesn’t it?
The government should cooperate with Apple why? And we should buy Apple’s products and stock why?
Most assuredly, what goes around . . . comes around. 🙁
Editors note: And where is Congress in stepping into the breach and legislating an obviously needed solution to this patently absurd impasse?
Join the discussion either by logging in just below or by signing into your favorite social media outlet. If you’re having trouble, please follow these instructions to guide you! Thanks!
