+1-817-968-5551
+61-488-839-671
+44-7480-542904About Expert
Key Topics
Requirement
Essay on Apple vs. FBI
Solution
Apple vs. FBI
This case came into headlines when 14 people were killed and 22 were injured when a terrorist attack took place in San Bernardino, California. After the incident, FBI got hold of an iPhone 5C and they tried to access all the important data from the phone. As per the court orders, they took help from the manufacturer, Apple Inc., and were able to unlock the phone. Later on FBI pressurized the company to design such a system that would help them bypass the security system of iPhone – 10-try limit. Apple, however, denied to design such platform that would allow the FBI to successfully bypass without trying all the possible combinations (Kharpal, 2016). This attitude on the part of the company angered the US Government.
Are you unable to complete your coursework on your own? Take online coursework service from Allassignmenthelp.com writers to get the highest grade. We have talented assignment experts who can help you in crafting a high-quality assignment. In all these years we have appeared as the best assignment writing help service on the internet.
In terms of ICT, this case exemplifies the issue of privacy and security. The program that the Government wanted Apple to create was a backdoor, which could possibly be used as much as possible to crack any number of devices. This, according to the company, would tantamount to creating a master key capable to unlock any number of locks, which would simply be acceptable to any person. Therefore, with this difference of attitudes, a moral and legal battle was ensued between the two entities and a discussion was started even among the masses as to where the moral lines be drawn as far as privacy and security are concerned. The refusal of Apple Computers to toe the line of FBI or Government and taking an ethical stance makes the situation a classical example of following of “Virtue Ethics”. As we know that virtue ethics are only concerned with one’s virtues and moral character (Hursthouse, 2003). In this case as well Apple took a decision to care for the values and took a stand for the public that it was morally wrong to compromise with the security of their data so that it could be prevented from getting misused. Even before this case, there has been a long debate regarding the protection of an individual’s privacy. So, from a moral point of view, the present case has definitely encouraged a public debate regarding an issue where repeated requests made by law enforcement agencies could have grave implications in terms of misuse of data belonging to the general public. In a recent case where a whistleblower, Edward Snowden, who worked with NSA, threw light on the matter of state surveillance overreach. This led a passionate public outcry regarding their privacy and on account of that a good reason for the politicians to legislate a relevant law and lay down privacy red lines.
The approach of looking at this case can be from the point of view of “deontology”. It is the field of psychology which is concerned with one’s duties and rules with which he/she should act at a particular situation without thinking about the consequences that the very act may or may not bring (Balestrieri, 2009). Apple Computers on being cajoled by the Government, customized the version of iOS allowing FBI to figure out how to get access to that specific iPhone. However, this point of view is self-defeating as it would not be suffice to create a backdoor just for the case in consideration. The loophole intentionally created in this manner will eventually make the platform more vulnerable and therefore could be exploited and misused by the people such hackers or dangerous professionals. The common examples of such an act of compromise with the security and privacy is attack of bugs, viruses, malwares and Trojans enabled due to such vulnerabilities. So, even if such vulnerabilities are mandated by the government, the step on the part of any company would not only be ethically wrong but could set a dangerous precedent because it would definitely going to open up the floodgates for the data to be stolen and misused. The larger issue that arises at this point in time following this tussle between these two entities is that there is no such thing as a completely secure system. Secondly, the FBI finally figured out as to how to get access to the iPhone, the chances are highly likely that they can crack any other Apple devices as many number of times as they can. Also, it is important to note that, in relation to this case, more often than not, the legal loopholes have, for far too long, been utilized as an effective strategy to enforce the surveillance powers without getting into any public debate and required scrutiny of such an act. It definitely amounts to the government’s attempt in using an obfuscation strategy to circumvent the encryption.
In relation to this case, the privacy of the public notwithstanding, there is one more important dimension that emerges over here. The debate on the backdrop of this very incident took a completely new turn – a choice between privacy and national security. We should not forget that the tension has emerged between Apple and FBI was because of an act of terrorism in which innocent people had to lose their precious lives. May be the Government therefore desperately wanted to get access to the important data in the iPhone because chances were very much there that it held clue to find more terrorists or their planning (Dobrzyn & Mably, 2016). So, if we put ourselves in the shoes of the victims of such incidents, we would only end up thinking about the security of the nation. Circumstances are replete when the Government agencies took help from the experts or relevant technologies to thwart the threat emanating from such acts of terrorism for the society at large.
At the end of the dispute, the position of Apple, by its own admission, maintained that the way with which FBI broke into the database of Apple’s security could bring undesirable consequences if misused grossly. Its apprehensions were that cyber criminals would most likely use this method of encryption to get access to their database. On the other hand, FBI put across the argument of national security and tried to justify their stand of having the encryption done by a third company. But the one winner who emerges out of this dispute is public because after this whole episode was over, the public came to know that their devices are not secure any longer. So, a robust system should be put in place which not only addresses the security but the privacy as well.
Place Order For A Top Grade Assignment Now
We have some amazing discount offers running for the students
Place Your OrderReferences
-
Balestrieri, P. (2009). Autonomy versus deontology. International Journal Of Obstetric Anesthesia,18(2), 189-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijoa.2008.10.004
-
Dobrzyn, E. & Mably, T. (2016). Pro/Con: Is Apple right to fight the FBI? – PCC Courier.Pcccourier.com. Retrieved 14 September 2016, from http://www.pcccourier.com/opinion/apple-2.html
-
Hursthouse, R. (2003). Virtue Ethics. Plato.stanford.edu. Retrieved 14 September 2016, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/
-
Kharpal, A. (2016). Apple vs FBI: All you need to know. CNBC. Retrieved 14 September 2016, from http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/29/apple-vs-fbi-all-you-need-to-know.html
Give your grades a boost
Just share your requirements and get customized solutions on time.
-
1,168,768 Orders
-
4.9/5 Overall Rating
-
5,052 Experts
