Three days after San Bernardino attack, Apple delivered parcels of information to the feds

While many are taking shots at Apple for not helping the government investigate the San Bernardino terrorist attack by unlocking Syed Farook's Apple iPhone 5c, the truth might actually be a lot different. Based on a court filing by an Apple attorney, the company delivered "two parcels" of information related to subscriber data just three days after the attack. Most believe that this was iCloud information related to three different subscribers and nine different accounts.

On January 22nd, the attorney (named Lisa Olle) said that Apple received a search warrant for the same iCloud information for Farook's iPhone. On January 26th, Apple complied with the search warrant and handed over to the government all of the information it had. Around this time, Apple discovered that the Apple ID of the phone in question had been reset by the San Bernardino County Department of Health, which actually owned the iPhone 5c it had given to the terrorist. The local agency did this at the behest of the FBI, and it was a major mistake. Had the password not been reset, Apple could have obtained the information sought by the feds. This could have been accomplished by backing up the content and data on the phone to iCloud, using a Wi-Fi network. Apple is now planning on encrypting such data to prevent the government from requesting it in the future.

And that brings us to the court order that Apple refuses to comply with. The positions are now well known. Apple is concerned that developing a unique Govt.OS to unlock the phone used by the deceased terrorist could end up with the software in the wrong hands. This could threaten the security of every iPhone holder. The government, and GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump, say that Apple is more concerned with its business than the possibility that future terror attacks could be thwarted with the information that Apple won't help the government discover.

But like most things in life, this is not a black and white issue. And despite that sound of hot air rising (no, wait, that's Donald Trump talking!), Apple has responded to previous requests for information. And consider this. There is a line that has to be drawn somewhere. Instead of being called unpatriotic or worse, Apple is taking a stand against a government request that could be seen as overreaching. And while today it is just a smartphone, tomorrow it could be Uncle Sam breaking down your door because the government wants some information from you. And the feds don't even think that examining Farook's phone will yield anything of value about other suspects!


The record submitted by Apple (and not denied by the feds) reveals that Apple has done every thing it could without hurting its customers' privacy, to turn over information about this case. Tim Cook even said this on the day the story blew up to become our new national pastime in the states. There are those who say Apple is not a good corporate citizen. It would seem that the opposite is true.

Circle March 22nd on your calendar. Not only is Apple expected to unveil the 4-inch Apple iPhone SE, the 9.7-inch Apple iPad Pro and a refresh version Apple Watch on that date, the court is also holding hearings on this matter.

   Lisa Olle Declaration in Support by Mikey Campbell

source: Scribd via AppleInsider
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