Apple Blog

       I wouldn't want to be in Apple's shoes right now. The company is still fighting to avoid a federal court order that is trying to force them to create new software that will allow the F.B.I. to break into an iPhone used by one of the shooters at San Bernardino. The basis of the argument is privacy vs. security, a question that has been haunting the American people for years now. Where do we draw the line? When do we sacrifice privacy for security or vice versa? I believe that in this specific case, security is edging out privacy. As the threats of terrorist attacks loom larger than ever, now is the time to act in order to prevent the worst from happening.
         Apple believes itself to be a revolutionary company. This is certainly made evident by their controversial 1984 commercial, whose tagline read "Why 1984 Won't Be Like '1984'." The company has fought against "Big Brother" and big government since the very beginning. The commercial itself got mixed reviews- some viewers loved and some, including Apple's Board of Directors, hated it. But once it was aired, its message was clear: Apple won't be pushed around by anyone and they'll always be there to protect its buyers' freedom.
         This sense of company pride and importance has now translated over to the current situation. This time, however, I don't think it's appropriate. In an age where terrorism grows steadily larger and America is constantly being bombarded with threats, it is of the utmost importance that we maintain strong security and a strong defense. The San Bernardino attack could be the first of many. When the lives of the American people are at stake, I believe that privacy becomes a second priority. In this case, I believe that Apple should make the software and allow the F.B.I. to use it because by doing so, they'll be protecting people's lives. In the New York Times article "Breaking Down Apple's iPhone Fight With the U.S. Government," it explains that the F.B.I. wants to break into the phone to see who the shooters were in contact with before the attack. Apple claims that creating software that would allow them to do this could open the door to future breaches of privacy. However, I believe that if Apple has the power to create this software, they have the power to destroy this software. I say they should create it, allow the F.B.I. to use it, and then destroy it. If there comes another time where the F.B.I. would need it, they'll have to go through another long court case. The software should be given out only when it is a last resort, which can only be determined by the courts.
          I don't know what the verdict of this case will be. I do know that I believe the verdict should rule in the F.B.I.'s favor and that Apple will try its hardest to stop that from happening. If there was any other way to get that information, the F.B.I. probably already looked into it. The fact that they're fighting this battle so hard should be a sign that this is crucial and most likely a last resort. The shooters at San Bernardino could have information that threatens the entire country. And that, I believe, is enough of a reason to risk our privacy.