Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB NHL Golf Horse Racing Tennis Col. Football Col. Basketball
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features Archives
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Archive Almanac
About Feedback
About Feedback
Search
Business News
Updated March 1, 2016 at 6:37 AM

Judge rules Apple doesn't have to unlock iPhone in drug trafficking case

The judge noted that Congress previously considered and rejected a bill to allow law enforcement agencies to break into locked phones and mine data.

By
Doug G. Ware
Privacy activists gather outside an Apple Store to defend the corporation in its battle with the FBI at The Grove in Los Angeles, February 23, 2016. Monday, a magistrate judge in New York ruled that the Justice Department doesn't have the legal authority to force Apple into helping investigators break into the locked iPhone in a New York drug trafficking case. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Monday ruled the U.S. Department of Justice does not have legal authority to force Apple to develop a program to circumvent security features on a smartphone related to a drug trafficking case in New York.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James Orenstein issued the ruling in a New York court, saying the government's order places an "unreasonable burden" on the iPhone maker.

Monday's ruling is the latest step in a privacy case that has sharply divided the parties involved as well as American citizens for weeks. It could be a boon for Apple in its refusal to bend to an FBI order requiring the company to create a back door to access an iPhone belonging to suspects in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif.

FBI investigators have been trying to get into Syed Rizwan Farook's phone, believing there may be valuable data inside that would help shed light on the San Bernardino plot and possibly finger others involved. Rigorous security on the phone, though, has kept agents from discovering potential new clues.

RELATED Apple working on hack-proof iPhone

RELATED DOJ again trying to force Apple's help to break terror suspect's iPhone, says FBI doesn't want 'back door'

Justice officials have tried to force Apple into creating a one-off software program that would allow investigators limitless attempts to crack the phone's password. As it stands now, agents have a very limited number of attempts to get in before the phone would sense a security threat and erase the entire device -- including any clues that may be contained within.

Apple has so far resisted a court order mandating the software, due to privacy concerns. Monday's court victory handed the tech company firmer legal footing in the fight.

Privacy activists gather outside an Apple Store to defend the tech company in its battle with the FBI at The Grove in Los Angeles, February 23, 2016. A magistrate judge in New York ruled Monday that the Justice Department cannot force Apple to comply with a federal order to help agents break into the locked iPhone of San Bernardino terror suspect Farook Syed. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

"How best to balance those interests is a matter of critical importance to our society, and the need for an answer becomes more pressing daily, as the tide of technological advance flows ever farther past the boundaries of what seemed possible even a few decades ago," Orenstein wrote in the ruling. "But that debate must happen today, and it must take place among legislators who are equipped to consider the technological and cultural realities of a world their predecessors could not begin to conceive."

RELATED Samsung wins appeal in patent dispute with Apple

"It's directly on point," a senior Apple executive said of Monday's ruling. "This is the first time a court has looked specifically at the issue."

The government and Apple are already squaring off in a Southern California court over the issue and some believe the case will eventually go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Justice officials expressed disappointment in Monday's ruling, although they said they would appeal in district court to overrule the magistrate judge.

RELATED Apple court document reveals multiple FBI, Justice Department iPhone requests

RELATED Apple CEO Cook condemns iPhone 'back door' order, calls it 'chilling,' 'dangerous'

"Apple expressly agreed to assist the government in accessing the data on this iPhone -- as it had many times before in similar circumstances -- and only changed course when the government's application for assistance was made public by the court," a Justice Department spokesman said. "This phone may contain evidence that will assist us in an active criminal investigation and we will continue to use the judicial system in our attempt to obtain it."

Orenstein rebuffed the government's position Monday citing a previous bill that Congress considered and rejected, which would have allowed law enforcement agencies access to locked cellphone to mine data.

"The relief the government seeks is unavailable because Congress has considered legislation that would achieve the same result but has not adopted it," he wrote. "It is also clear that the government has made the considered decision that it is better off securing such crypto-legislative authority from the courts rather than taking the chance that open legislative debate might produce a result less to its liking."

RELATED Americans divided over Justice Department-Apple dispute

  • Topics
  • Supreme Court
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more UPI news and photos.

Trending Stories

Tecolote awarded $38.8M for Space and Missile Systems Center operations
PAE awarded $27.6M contract for Afghanistan defense, security support
Saab to supply U.S. Army with Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon system
Bell Boeing signs $10.7M contract for V-22 Osprey radar upgrades
BP to be more transparent about climate efforts amid investor concerns

Photo Gallery

 
Balloons take flight at Al-Ula Balloon Festival in Saudi Arabia

Latest News

Smoking may hurt body's fight against skin cancer
Kim Jong Un could travel to Vietnam by train
Nearly 3,000 Germans don Smurf costumes for Guinness record
Draper awarded $191M for Trident missile guidance system
Poll: Record number of Americans say government is greatest problem
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy