America
Google's Sundar Pichai backs Apple over cracking shooter's phone
By
Arun KumarWashington, Feb 18
Google's Indian-American chief executive Sundar Pichai sided with rival Apple in its battle over a court order to help the FBI access information on the encrypted iPhone used by a Pakistani-American shooter in San Bernardino.
Pichai Wedenesday directed followers to Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook's open letter Tuesday night arguing that helping the FBI try to get into the phone used by Syed Rizwan Farook would sabotage the security of "tens of millions of American citizens."
Farook and his Pakistani origin wife, Tashfeen Malik, gunned down 14 people at a social services agency Dec 2 in San Bernardino, California, before being killed in a shootout with police.
FBI Director James Comey said last week that investigators still haven't been able to get at the information on Farook's iPhone 5c.
A Riverside, California court Tuesday directed Apple to help FBI crack the phone by developing software to hack into one of its own devices.
In a series of tweets Wednesday evening, Pichai argued that even that would essentially put tech companies in the position of hacking their own customers:
1/5 Important post by @tim_cook. Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise users' privacy.
2/5 We know that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face significant
challenges in protecting the public against crime and terrorism 3/5 We build secure products to keep your information safe and we give law enforcement access to data based on valid legal orders 4/5 But that's wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices & data. Could be a troubling precedent 5/5 Looking forward to a thoughtful and open discussion on this important issue
The government, Cook contends, is asking Apple to create a "backdoor" to its own security systems.
"Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them," Cook wrote in a letter published on the company's website.
"But now the US government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create."
Reacting to Cook's stand, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said he was floored that Apple had not volunteered to aid the FBI. "Who do they think they are?" he asked on Fox News.
Speaking to reporters in South Carolina, Senator Marco Rubio said he hoped the tech giant would voluntarily comply with the government's request, but acknowledged the court order is far from a simple issue.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])
Pichai Wedenesday directed followers to Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook's open letter Tuesday night arguing that helping the FBI try to get into the phone used by Syed Rizwan Farook would sabotage the security of "tens of millions of American citizens."
Farook and his Pakistani origin wife, Tashfeen Malik, gunned down 14 people at a social services agency Dec 2 in San Bernardino, California, before being killed in a shootout with police.
FBI Director James Comey said last week that investigators still haven't been able to get at the information on Farook's iPhone 5c.
A Riverside, California court Tuesday directed Apple to help FBI crack the phone by developing software to hack into one of its own devices.
In a series of tweets Wednesday evening, Pichai argued that even that would essentially put tech companies in the position of hacking their own customers:
1/5 Important post by @tim_cook. Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise users' privacy.
2/5 We know that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face significant
challenges in protecting the public against crime and terrorism 3/5 We build secure products to keep your information safe and we give law enforcement access to data based on valid legal orders 4/5 But that's wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices & data. Could be a troubling precedent 5/5 Looking forward to a thoughtful and open discussion on this important issue
The government, Cook contends, is asking Apple to create a "backdoor" to its own security systems.
"Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them," Cook wrote in a letter published on the company's website.
"But now the US government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create."
Reacting to Cook's stand, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said he was floored that Apple had not volunteered to aid the FBI. "Who do they think they are?" he asked on Fox News.
Speaking to reporters in South Carolina, Senator Marco Rubio said he hoped the tech giant would voluntarily comply with the government's request, but acknowledged the court order is far from a simple issue.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])
34 minutes ago
Fire at Tata Electronics facility in TN's Hosur, four admitted in hospital
34 minutes ago
CPI seeks Kerala ADGP's removal for meeting RSS leaders
35 minutes ago
Flood situation worsens in North Bihar due to continuous rain
36 minutes ago
K’taka govt to organise ‘Gandhi March’ & ‘Swachhata Pledge’ on Oct 2
38 minutes ago
India sees strong growth in key mineral, non-ferrous metal production in April-Aug
38 minutes ago
India signs global ocean treaty to protect marine biodiversity on high seas
39 minutes ago
Prioritising export growth must to reach $500 bn electronics manufacturing by FY30: Industry
39 minutes ago
Sweden joins ISRO’s Venus Orbiter Mission
40 minutes ago
Apple pulls out from OpenAI’s potential $6.5 billion funding round
42 minutes ago
Dust mite exposure can trigger severe allergic reactions, asthma in children
42 minutes ago
Indian study finds method to create nanostructures for use in biomedicine, electronics
44 minutes ago
Raashii Khanna: Just being good enough is not good enough anywhere
45 minutes ago
Sara Ali Khan radiates retro glamour in stunning golden gown, chic accessories