Protests Planned Against FBI Attempt To Hack Apple iPhone

February 18th, 2016

Awake Goy

An internet privacy organization has planned nationwide protests over a court order pressuring Apple Inc. to build a backdoor into their encryption security, used on their smart-phones, to allow the FBI access.

Fight for the Future, dedicated to fighting basic internet rights and freedoms, is organizing protests at Apple stores nationwide.

Sputnik reports:

The protests will not be against Apple, who has released a message to their customers decrying the order and vowing to challenge it, but against the US government.

“They’ve been wanting to do this for years, but now they’re exploiting the tragedy in San Bernardino, CA to push their agenda to weaken the security of all of our phones to enable more government surveillance,” Fight for the Future wrote on an event page for the demonstrations. “Our basic safety and security is at stake! On Tuesday, February 23rd we will gather at Apple stores nationwide with two simple messages: ‘Don’t Break Our Phones!’ and ‘Secure Phones Save Lives!’”

Growing group of folks at the SF Apple Store. Showing support of Apple’s decision to protect encryption for users. pic.twitter.com/UKIwf5qYPK

— Doctor Popular (@DocPop) February 18, 2016

The FBI demands are focused on last year’s terrorist shooting in San Bernardino. A judge ordered Apple to allow the FBI to break into an iPhone belonging to one of the shooters. While this may seem appropriate to the situation, Apple CEO Tim Cook warns that the implications will go far beyond San Bernardino.

The FBI would save a lot more lives if they tried to force Apple to install a sensor that disabled texting while driving instead.

— Jeff Goldschrafe (@jgoldschrafe) February 17, 2016

“Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them. But now the U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone,” Cook wrote.

We stand with Apple. No back doors.

— torproject (@torproject) February 17, 2016

Specifically, the FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation,” he continued. “In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.”

If you can circumvent your product security, the gov will force you to do so. Going forward, smart tech companies will tie their own hands.

— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) February 17, 2016

Cook noted that government assurances that this is a one-time issue cannot guarantee that a hacked OS would not be leaked to the public or that federal organizations would not expand their snooping to include all iPhones.

This isn’t about one iPhone. If this precedent gets set it will spell digital disaster for the trustworthiness of any and every device.

— Kevin Bankston (@KevinBankston) February 17, 2016

“The government could extend this breach of privacy and demand that Apple build surveillance software to intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge,” the letter explained.

Apple just declared war. You want to be on their side. https://t.co/M6Tux2y1mB

— Oli Young (@oliyoung) February 17, 2016

The day of protest is on February 23, and Fight for the Future is urging supporters to gather at 5:30 p.m. at the most central Apple store in their city.

In the Bay Area? Join @fightfortheftr for an emergency rally in defense of crypto. Meet tonight at 4:45 at the Apple Store on Stockton.

— EFF (@EFF) February 17, 2016