That’s led to Apple having several legal spats with the U.S. government. The latest has seen the company once again refuse to hand over data in a legal case. Now, Cupertino says consistent complaints from the FBI stopped it from allowing users to encrypt their iPhone backups on iCloud. Codenamed Plesio and KeyDrop, the feature would have given users the ability to encrypt their phone backups. In other words, authorities like the FBI would not be able to access personal information. Importantly, not even a court order would work to unlock the data. Apple informed the FBI that it planned to introduce the tool. However, the FBI cybercrime and operation technology division complained about the plans. Apple says its idea of stopping hackers on iCloud was later shut down. A former Apple employee told Reuters, “Legal killed it, for reasons you can imagine.”
Current Legal Battle
Cupertino has doubled down on its decision not to unlock a password protected device that belonged to a Florida shooter. Investigators argue the data is needed for its case against Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani. In December, the Saudi-born Air Force cadet gunned down three people at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla. However, Apple said it is helping the FBI in the Pensacola shooting case but won’t unlock two iPhones. “We reject the characterization that Apple has not provided substantive assistance in the Pensacola investigation,” the company said in a statement emailed to Threatpost. “Our responses to their many requests since the attack have been timely, thorough and are ongoing.”
