On the Media: Apple vs. FBI

This is a subject we have already discussed in class, but it is nice to listen to the podcast anyways, as this is a more subjective information source rather than our opinions in class.

Something we have not talked about is that this security feature that the FBI wants to disable on the phone is relatively recent addition in the iPhone software, simply to stop government intrusion. Creating this code that the FBI wants, would defeat the whole purpose of the software in the first place.

Second, they talk about the rounds for both Apple and FBI, and how the FBI already has the access to the metadata through the phone carrier, and that apple is in fact refusing a court order. They are both on shaky grounds, as there is a very little chance that the FBI will find something that they do not already know, and Apple has chosen a case where they stand on very small grounds in the first place.

They also talk about the technicalities of the development of such a software that supposedly does not exist. The current safety feature is after 10 unsuccessful hacks the phone will delete its content, which is the part that the FBI wants disabled. There is a chance that this software gets out there, and maybe in the wrong hands.

As a personal comment, i'm surprised that this blew over so fast in the media, at least in my newsfeed it did. I still see a post every now and then if something major happens, but after 2 days it basically became radio silent on this front.