Apple and FBI on Collision Course as Engineers Plan to Quit
The U.S. government and Apple are currently in a state of war, but not the typical kind. With the news that the Justice Department is trying to force the California-based company to develop a custom software for the government to be able to access the contents of a particular iPhone 5C previously connected to one of the shooters in the San Bernardino killings, Apple is playing hard ball, saying that doing so will undercut the very essence of privacy in their product.
The government, per report from CNET, is currently trying to get a court order for Apple to do what the Justice Department wants, but this issue isn't expected to end when that order is released. Accordingly, company engineers plan on quitting once it happens. And because these individuals are the ones who are expected to build that custom software, it could derail the plans of the government in extracting information from that phone.
To recall, the device in question is supposedly owned or linked to a Syed Farook, identified as one of the two shooters in the December massacre that took the life of 14 people. The technology giant previously stated in a court filing that the creation of the custom version of their operating system that runs in the iPhone and iPad products will need at least six engineers. But the problem is that it looks like those people aren't being cooperative.
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While the resolution of the case still lies in the hands of the lower courts, there is certainty that it will be dragged right up to the Supreme Court, considering that the issue is a major question of privacy and security of mobile phone users, particularly the iPhone.
If ever the engineers decide to quit once the court order comes out, it is unclear if Apple will be held liable for contempt. It is sure though that the company is responsible for the actions of its employees once they refuse to follow a government order.
