Apple court date canceled; Tim Cook reiterates during product launch the tech leader won’t help FBI
Set to meet in a California court today, the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI called off a scheduled hearing with attorneys for Apple as the feds say they’ve found an “outside party” that could unlock an iPhone associated with the alleged San Bernardino, California, terrorist attack. The FBI had previously ordered Apple to create a backdoor into the phone, which the company has continuously refused to do.
“Testing is required to determine whether it is a viable method that will not compromise data on Farook’s iPhone,” court documents noted, referencing Rizwan Farook, who, along with his wife, is charged with killing 14 people and wounding 22 others in the Dec. 2 shooting. “If the method is viable, it should eliminate the need for the assistance from Apple.”
A DOJ spokesperson reportedly said the FBI is “cautiously optimistic” it can get into the phone.
In a launch event yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the ongoing issue before showcasing the new iPhone SE. “We did not expect to be in this position, at odds with our own government, but we believe strongly we have a responsibility to help you protect your data and your privacy,” Cook explained. “We will not shrink from this responsibility.”
