U.S.

wants to peek inside iPhone but

Apple holding up the shield of privacy
By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff on 02.21.16
Word Count 862

The U.S. government is battling with Apple about a way to collect the iPhone data of one of the shooters in the San
Bernardino, California, attack last December that killed 14 people. Photo: AP/Carolyn Kaster

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. Apple, the maker of trend-setting gadgets like the iPhone and
iPad, has changed the way people use technology in their daily lives. Along the way it has
cast itself as a defender of user privacy. Now, the giant tech company is headed for a
showdown with the federal government over its latest attempt to keep user data private.
An Apple product user's data is any bit of information about them that can be picked up
from their text messages, phone calls or photos. Such data is of interest both to advertisers
and, potentially, the government. The government sees access to data as a valuable tool in
its attempts to spot and track criminals and potential terrorists.
For months, Apple CEO Tim Cook has engaged in a sharp, public debate with government
ofcials over his company's decision to shield the data of iPhone users with strong
encryption. Essentially, encryption is a method of scrambling data so it is unreadable or, in
the case of a photo, unrecognizable. Encrypted data can only be decrypted with a secret
key or passcode.

Apple's encryption is locking up people's photos, text messages and other data so
securely that even Apple cannot get at it. Law-enforcement ofcials have complained that
terrorists and criminals may use that encryption as a shield.

Federal Order Seeks Software To Enable Hacking

Then on Wednesday, Apple found itself challenged by the government over an iPhone
used by one of the San Bernardino, California, mass shooters. A federal judge ordered
Apple to produce software that would help federal investigators hack into that phone.
The software would not break the encryption directly. Instead, it would disable other
security measures that prevent attempts to guess the phone's passcode.
Apple has ve days to challenge the order.
Experts say the legal clash could change the relationship between tech companies and
government authorities.
"This is really a deep question about the power of government to redesign products that
we use," said law professor Ryan Calo.

Little Public Support From Other Tech Companies

Many leading tech companies Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Yahoo were
noticeably silent about the dispute on Wednesday. However, some trade groups did issue
statements endorsing Apple's position. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also voiced support for
Apple in a series of tweets late in the day.
"Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise users' privacy," Pichai wrote. He
added that the case could set a troubling example.
In the past, tech companies have spoken against government attempts to secretly monitor
vast numbers of private communications. Such broad monitoring is known as surveillance.
To many opponents it is essentially spying on the American people.
Recently, however, the Obama administration has sought to enlist the tech industry's help
in ghting terrorism. Several companies have heeded the administration's request to take
down terrorist postings on social media.
Civil liberties groups warned that the current conict could extend beyond Apple.
"This is asking a company to build a digital defect, a design aw, into their products,"
privacy advocate Nuala O'Connor said. O'Connor works for the Center for Democracy and
Technology, a Washington, D.C.-based group that has criticized government surveillance.
In a statement, the center warned that other companies could face similar orders in the
future.

Opening The Door For Other Countries' Requests

Others said a government victory could encourage governments in China and other
countries to make similar requests for access to smartphone data. Apple sells millions of
iPhones in China, which has become the company's second-largest market.
"This case is going to affect everyone's privacy and security around the world," lawyer Lee
Tien said. Tien is a staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital rights
group in San Francisco.
Apple's Cook said the government's demand would create what amounts to a "back door"
in Apple's encryption software. If the government can "make it easier to unlock your
iPhone, it would have the power to reach into anyone's device to capture their data," he
wrote in an open letter. Cook also pledged respect for law enforcement and expressed
outrage over the shootings.
Cook may have no choice but to mount a legal challenge. After all, his company has made
a very public commitment to protecting customer data.
Apple "can't be seen now as doing something that would make their products less safe,"
said business professor Wendy Patrick, who teaches at San Diego State University in
California. "I think everyone saw this issue coming down the pike," she added. "Apple
always knew it was going to push back when the moment came."

How Will Consumers React?

However, Apple's refusal to cooperate may anger consumers who put a higher value on
national security than privacy. A recent survey found that 82 percent of U.S. adults think
government surveillance of suspected terrorists is acceptable. Apple's position was
already drawing re Wednesday. Both Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump
and commentators on Fox News harshly criticized the company.
However, only 40 percent of those recently surveyed said it is acceptable for the
government to monitor U.S. citizens. The survey also found nearly three-fourths of U.S.
adults consider it "very important" to have control over who can access personal
information about them.

Quiz
1

Read the following quote from the section "Little Public Support From Other Tech Companies."

"This is asking a company to build a digital defect, a design aw, into

their products," privacy advocate Nuala O'Connor said.
What does Nuala most likely mean by "digital defect"?

(A)

another component of the technology

(B)

a criticism of the government's inability to protect our nation

(C)

a numerical error in the design scheme

(D)

an imperfection in the software

Read the following paragraph from the section "Opening The Door For Other Countries'
Requests."

Cook may have no choice but to mount a legal challenge. After all, his
company has made a very public commitment to protecting customer
data.
What does "mount" mean in the sentence above?

(A)

to climb up

(B)

to organize and prepare

(C)

to combat obstacles

(D)

to rise against a threat

Which of the following people or groups in this article would be MOST likely to agree with the
following statement?
Protection of our nation's security is not enough justication to control access to a citizen's
personal information.
(A)

the Obama administration

(B)

Sundar Pichai

(C)

Republicans

(D)

Lee Tien

According to the article, which of the following is given as a reason for why Apple should
create the encryption override?
(A)

The override could help monitor and prevent terrorism plans.

(B)

The override will not compromise users' privacy.

(C)

The override could help monitor vast numbers of private communications.

(D)

The override would better capture data to store for the future.

Answer Key
1

Read the following quote from the section "Little Public Support From Other Tech Companies."

"This is asking a company to build a digital defect, a design aw, into

their products," privacy advocate Nuala O'Connor said.
What does Nuala most likely mean by "digital defect"?

(A)

another component of the technology

(B)

a criticism of the government's inability to protect our nation

(C)

a numerical error in the design scheme

(D)

an imperfection in the software

Read the following paragraph from the section "Opening The Door For Other Countries'
Requests."

Cook may have no choice but to mount a legal challenge. After all, his
company has made a very public commitment to protecting customer
data.
What does "mount" mean in the sentence above?

(A)

to climb up

(B)

to organize and prepare

(C)

to combat obstacles

(D)

to rise against a threat

Which of the following people or groups in this article would be MOST likely to agree with the
following statement?
Protection of our nation's security is not enough justication to control access to a citizen's
personal information.
(A)

the Obama administration

(B)

Sundar Pichai

(C)

Republicans

(D)

Lee Tien

According to the article, which of the following is given as a reason for why Apple should
create the encryption override?
(A)

The override could help monitor and prevent terrorism plans.

(B)

The override will not compromise users' privacy.

(C)

The override could help monitor vast numbers of private communications.

(D)

The override would better capture data to store for the future.