14 DAY TRIAL // The Apple versus the United States government saga seems to be hurting Cupertino’s business already, as the Maricopa County, Arizona, has decided to no longer allow employees to get iPhones.
In a press statement this morning, the Maricopa County’s Attorney Office explained that iPhones would not be provided as an option for replacements or upgrades for local employees because “Apple is on the side of terrorists” since it does not want to help the FBI break into an iPhone used by San Bernardino attackers.
“Apple’s refusal to cooperate with a legitimate law enforcement investigation to unlock a phone used by terrorists puts Apple on the side of terrorists instead of on the side of public safety,” Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said. “Positioning their refusal to cooperate as having anything to do with privacy interests is a corporate PR stunt and ignores the 4th Amendment protections afforded by our Constitution.”
Apple “indifferent” to terrorist attacks
The new measure came into effect on February 21, the press release reveals, and is the result of Apple’s refusal to work together with the FBI to break into the terrorists’ iPhone and help the fight against national security threats.
A court ruling earlier this month forced Apple to develop custom software that could allow the FBI to have unlimited passcode entry attempts on the iPhone and thus brute-force hack the device. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, however, warned that the company does not have and does not want to build such software, as it could set a dangerous precedent and further expose American customers.
But Maricopa County says that Apple’s refusal to work with the FBI proves that the company is “indifferent” to the threat that killed so many Americans.
“If the potential for unauthorized access to an encryption key is truly motivating Apple’s unwillingness to assist in downloading information from specific iPhones, then let’s define the problem in those terms and work on that concern. Otherwise, Apple is proving indifferent to the need for evidence to hold people accountable who have harmed or intend to harm fellow citizens,” Montgomery concluded.