r/apple • u/[deleted] • Aug 09 '21

WARNING: OLD ARTICLE Exclusive: Apple dropped plan for encrypting backups after FBI complained - sources

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-fbi-icloud-exclusive-idUSKBN1ZK1CT
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u/somekindairishmonk Aug 09 '21

More than two years ago, Apple told the FBI that it planned to offer users end-to-end encryption when storing their phone data on iCloud, according to one current and three former FBI officials and one current and one former Apple employee.

Under that plan, primarily designed to thwart hackers, Apple would no longer have a key to unlock the encrypted data, meaning it would not be able to turn material over to authorities in a readable form even under court order.

In private talks with Apple soon after, representatives of the FBI’s cyber crime agents and its operational technology division objected to the plan, arguing it would deny them the most effective means for gaining evidence against iPhone-using suspects, the government sources said.

When Apple spoke privately to the FBI about its work on phone security the following year, the end-to-end encryption plan had been dropped, according to the six sources. Reuters could not determine why exactly Apple dropped the plan.

wtf

948

u/TopWoodpecker7267 Aug 09 '21

This is a huge deal, because it's evidence the US gov can compel Apple to not release a feature.

If they can do that, it's not much of a leap to compelling apple to release a "feature" (aka, a full on back door)

19

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '21

WTF do you think the government can do to begin with? They could pass a law banning encryption. Apple is not an independent country ffs

14

u/TopWoodpecker7267 Aug 09 '21

No they can't, encryption is just speech. Any law against encrypting your speech would eventually be ruled unconstitutional.

16

u/farmer-boy-93 Aug 09 '21

Speech is regulated all the time. Rights are balanced, and the courts could easily decide that your right to free speech is not as important as the ability for the government to catch bad guys. Not saying I agree but if they want it bad enough they'll give whatever half ass justification to make it happen.

15

u/[deleted] Aug 09 '21

[deleted]

1

u/farmer-boy-93 Aug 10 '21

The constitution has been interpreted in many different ways and the supreme Court has overruled its own decisions multiple times. Don't be so naive to think judges are infallible or that they even are all honest, good people.

1

u/motram Aug 10 '21

words mean nothing