Summary-Analysis-Response Essay
Vepa Ashyrov
Professor Rebecca Sader
English 1302 : 81013
06 October 2017
Apple vs. FBI Proposal
The topic of this paper will be between the Apple and the FBI. This will entail the debate
between technology firms and law enforcement authorities over data privacy and access. The
problem came about after the FBI tried to get the access when a shooter’s device was accessed
after the attack at San Bernardino.
Sometimes in last year, a federal judge had asked the Apple Company to chip in and
assist the FBI to unlock an iPhone that belonged to Syed Farook, a man responsible for shootings
in the San Bernardino and the incidence led to fourteen people killed (Pike). The Apple was
supposed to provide a reasonable technical assistance to the US authorities that would see the
technology giants to overhaul the system that disables the phone after 10 unsuccessful password
attempts. The company declined this offer and that brought all the differences that are there
between the Apple and the FBI.
This kind of case was one of the highest profile clashes in the debate over the encryption
and the data privacy between the government and the technology company. The government
wanted an access to the user’s data and the company was totally against this. The question is that
was the technology company supposed to grant the government the access to the users’ data
privacy? The answer to this question is that the technology company was not supposed to allow
it since the encryption was the key to protecting user data from hackers (Stephan).
When it comes to issues that involve the government, there are so many questions that
remain unanswered. It is not because that there is no answer but some questions are very
complex and needs thorough analyzation. Therefore, the thesis statement is, the technology
company should protect the users’ privacy data from malicious attacks and the government
should get alternative to doing their research and not hacking someone’s device.
It is very sad if the company that is supposed to protect the privacy of its users is the one
exposing the users. Everyone is entitled to privacy and that should one should be respected even
by the authorities. Therefore, I support the technology company, Apple for the fact that it
declined the request to allow the FBI to access the data privacy of the shooter in those shootings.
Since it is the mandate of the company, therefore it did its job as required by the law (Chan).
Today’s technology is very high. Any lead on how one can access the users’ data will
make the users of iPhones to be vulnerable to the hackers. This is not the case since most people
do buy those gadgets expecting the high-profile protection from hackers. Therefore, I do support
the move by the Apple Company for declining the request and letting the FBI get an alternative
to their research.
It is very unethical for the company that is expected to protect the users if it exposes the
users to threats of hackers. The Apple Company should restrict the access to the data privacy of
the users since it is their mandate to protect users. The move by the technology company was one
of the best.
Works cited
Chan, G., & Aylward, S. (2016). FBI v. Apple and beyond: Encryption in the Canadian Law of
Digital Search and Seizure. Journal of Data Protection & Privacy, 1(1), 103-119.
Stephan, K. (2017). Apple Versus the Feds: How a smartphone stymied the FBI. IEEE Consumer
Electronics Magazine, 6(2), 103-104.
Pike, G. H. (2016). Legal Issues: Liberty or Safety: Should the Law Fall Mute?.