FBI to unlock yet another iPhone and an iPod

4.5
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced last week - after over a month long legal battle with Apple - that it won't require the company's help in unlocking the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone 5c, as it managed to break Apple's encryption through other sources. Now, a request to unlock two other devices made by a prosecutor in Arkansas has been acknowledged by the FBI.

Two teenagers who allegedly murdered Robert and Patricia Cogdell last July in Arkansas are facing a trial in which they have pleaded not guilty to the capital murder, aggravated robbery and other related charges. The prosecutors are in possession of an iPhone 6 belonging to 18-year old Hunter Drexler and an iPod belonging to 15-year old Justin Staton.

It is believed that the teenagers used these devices to plot the murder and may contain critical evidence. The FBI hasn't revealed how they gained access to the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone, but it seems to have figured out a way to unlock devices regularly, as it has agreed to do the same for the devices confiscated in this case.

Apple wasn't pleased by the FBI's request and the latest event will further increase the growing concern among tech companies and the community regarding the protection of user privacy versus law enforcement.

Posted:
Related Forum: Mobile Devices

Source: http://www.neowin.net/news/fbi-to-unlock-yet-another-iphone-and-an-ipod

Comments

"FBI to unlock yet another iPhone and an iPod" :: Login/Create an Account :: 19 comments

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SleepPosted:

I believe Apple is going to do something in all their power to make their iOS even more secure than before.

StifledPosted:

Jeez People get way too butt hurt over this. The second you commit a crime of that nature, all your rights to privacy goes out the freaken window. I 1000% stand with the FBI on unlocking these phones. Cell phones are such a massive part of everyones lives, this could be a large piece of evidence to send people to jail


Completely agree with you on this.

KazuPosted:

HDz
Italian I don't see this as an invasion of privacy from the government. If you commit a crime and they have reasonable doubt that you have evidence on your phone they should be able to access it. When you commit a crime like capital murder or a terrorist act you should lose all your rights in my opinion. Yes, not guilty until proven guilty. But the terrorist were obviously the culprits in the San B case, so Apple should legally have helped and offered to help find another solution to unlock the iPhone the government was only in the wrong in the way they suggested and wanted to force apple to go about unlocking it


nope apple shuld be the only ones woth a back door/root then when FBI request it they chose

you'd be saying something different if it had to deal with your life or someone you love.

HDzPosted:

Italian I don't see this as an invasion of privacy from the government. If you commit a crime and they have reasonable doubt that you have evidence on your phone they should be able to access it. When you commit a crime like capital murder or a terrorist act you should lose all your rights in my opinion. Yes, not guilty until proven guilty. But the terrorist were obviously the culprits in the San B case, so Apple should legally have helped and offered to help find another solution to unlock the iPhone the government was only in the wrong in the way they suggested and wanted to force apple to go about unlocking it


nope apple shuld be the only ones woth a back door/root then when FBI request it they chose

JeezPosted:

People get way too butt hurt over this. The second you commit a crime of that nature, all your rights to privacy goes out the freaken window. I 1000% stand with the FBI on unlocking these phones. Cell phones are such a massive part of everyones lives, this could be a large piece of evidence to send people to jail

NotePosted:

Earn
kamilca As much as i hate people breaching privacy and that support apple for not making a back door, This kind of stuff makes me feel bad. critial evidance may be on the phone and I do feel that it should be accessed


I'm completely with you, I understand Apple don't want methods of how to bypass their security leaking out but surely they could just destroy it after they are done? Especially if its to access data which could reveal the plot of a murder.


The FBI would never destroy it after they're done. They'll abuse it over and over again.
Most people probably won't have any related info to crimes they're about to commit just sitting on their phone.
They just want to watch everyone.

EarnPosted:

kamilca As much as i hate people breaching privacy and that support apple for not making a back door, This kind of stuff makes me feel bad. critial evidance may be on the phone and I do feel that it should be accessed


I'm completely with you, I understand Apple don't want methods of how to bypass their security leaking out but surely they could just destroy it after they are done? Especially if its to access data which could reveal the plot of a murder.

kamilcaPosted:

As much as i hate people breaching privacy and that support apple for not making a back door, This kind of stuff makes me feel bad. critial evidance may be on the phone and I do feel that it should be accessed

ItalianPosted:

I don't see this as an invasion of privacy from the government. If you commit a crime and they have reasonable doubt that you have evidence on your phone they should be able to access it. When you commit a crime like capital murder or a terrorist act you should lose all your rights in my opinion. Yes, not guilty until proven guilty. But the terrorist were obviously the culprits in the San B case, so Apple should legally have helped and offered to help find another solution to unlock the iPhone the government was only in the wrong in the way they suggested and wanted to force apple to go about unlocking it