The fight between Apple and the FBI is finally over. Recently, Apple had declined to unlock an iPhone that belonged to a terrorist due to privacy issues. Few months ago, FBI had requested Apple to add a backdoor on its iOS to allow the FBI only to access Apple users phones. However, Apple rejected the requested which led it to a court case.
That’s right, the FBI somehow managed to get the terrorists Apple iPhone 5C unlocked that was involved in the San Bernardino shooting. The Department of Justice stated that the iPhone had been unlocked successfully and no longer needs Apple’s help.
“The government has now successfully accessed the data stored on Farook’s iPhone and therefore no longer requires the assistance of Apple,” the attorneys wrote in a court filing Monday. “Accordingly, the government hereby requests that the Order Compelling Apple Inc to Assist Agents in Search dated February 16, 2016, be vacated.”
A Department of Justice spokeswoman stated: “The FBI is currently reviewing the information on the phone, consistent with standard investigatory procedures.”
Apple has stated the following (via Verge):
“From the beginning, we objected to the FBI’s demand that Apple builds a backdoor into the iPhone because we believed it was wrong and would set a dangerous precedent. As a result of the government’s dismissal, neither of these occurred. This case should never have been brought.
We will continue to help law enforcement with their investigations, as we have done all along, and we will continue to increase the security of our products as the threats and attacks on our data become more frequent and more sophisticated.
Apple believes deeply that people in the United States and around the world deserve data protection, security and privacy. Sacrificing one for the other only puts people and countries at greater risk.
This case raised issues which deserve a national conversation about our civil liberties, and our collective security and privacy. Apple remains committed to participating in that discussion.”