While the U.S. government has decided to drop their case against Apple, this doesn’t mean that they’re throwing in the towel completely in the modern day Crypto Wars. The Department of Justice has stated that it will not hesitate to invoke the precedent it won in its iPhone unlocking case.
In an e-mail to Ars Technica, the DoJ has stated that they would continue to rely on courts in order to compel other tech companies to weaken, if not outright break their encryption. “It remains a priority for the government to ensure that law enforcement can obtain crucial digital information to protect national security and public safety, either with cooperation from relevant parties, or through the court system when cooperation fails. We will continue to pursue all available options for this mission, including seeking the cooperation of manufacturers and relying upon the creativity of both the public and private sectors,” says Melanie Newman, spokesman for the Department of Justice.
It is unclear as to which precedent that the DoJ is referring to exactly, as the Apple vs FBI case was dropped before a judge could render a verdict on the case. That said, we’re assuming it refers to the use of the All Writs Act to compel a company to assist it with an investigation.
Needless to say, this statement was not lost among the tech industry. “While the DoJ consistently claimed its motion was directed at one company and one phone, the fine print reveals it believes it can coerce any company to dsable its security to provide government access. This applies to any company that makes products with software,” says Morgan Reed, Executive Director of The App Association.
Apple has also issued its own statement to the matter. “This case raised issues which deserve a national conversation about our civil liberties, and our collective security and privacy. Apple remains committed to participating in that discussion,” says Apple.
In short, Crypto War II has begun.
Source: Ars Technica
