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Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

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Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#11

Post by ComputerGuru »

Notice how the headline makes sure to specify "over terrorist's phone" and not "over user privacy" or "against federal conscription by the FBI."

Take a second and re-read the headline. What does it say? To me, it spells out Microsoft joins Apple to back terrorist's privacy against the FBI.

The government couldn't have chosen a better case to publicize in search of a precedent in their favor. And the media isn't helping.

Edit: In case it wasn't clear, I think it's actually disingenuous to mention the word "terrorist" in the headline at all. Nothing about why Apple is resisting (which is the crux of this news cycle) has to do with the fact that they are, bizarrely, fighting for this (dead) user (who is undeniably a madman murderer and potentially a terrorist)'s right to privacy.

Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and everyone here in the comments isn't defending this person's right to privacy. It's 100% about the principle and the precedent and it's a million times about the future users and nothing to do with this horrible person. For that reason, it's unfair (in fact, you could call it purposeful misrepresentation) to say that they are against the FBI unlocking "terrorist's phone" or defending the "terrorist's privacy" in any way. What they are doing, if one excludes self-interest, is protecting the principle for everyone else out there.

Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#12

Post by matthewmcg »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #11

Notice how the headline makes sure to specify "over terrorist's phone" and not "over user privacy" or "against federal conscription by the FBI." Take a second and re-read the headline. What does it say? To me, it spells out Microsoft joins Apple to back terrorist's privacy against the FBI. The government couldn't have chosen a better case to publicize in search of a precedent in their favor. And the media isn't helpi…

Also that this is an order under the All Writs Act and not a search warrant. If I had a nickel for every time this is described in the press as Apple resisting a "warrant" or a "subpoena" I'd be able to make a seven figure donation to the EFF!

Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#13

Post by codys »

runjake wrote: post #4
wheaties wrote: post #2

Wow, so brilliant to have Bill Gates so he's pro-government intrusion and then the company back Apple. Update: This was not meant to troll. I fell for the mis-attributed quotes to Bill and thought he actually backed the FBI. I stand corrected.

It looks like you're probably just trying to troll, but to head off additional discussion: Gates has some stuff mis-attributed to him and the very next day after initial reports, Gates disputed reports that he backs the FBI in the Apple dispute: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-02-23/gates-disput... A better troll might've pointed out the disparity between Microsoft supporting Apple's stances and the circums…

Gates disputed those reports, but he never states he doesn't support the FBI in this case.

I think the key take away from that video is:

> Gates: With the right safe guards in place there are cases where the government, on our behalf [...]

He also dodges the direct question about his position entirely.

He's not trying to make his position very clear, but he is certainly angling to support the FBI's position. Lots of references to terrorism in that interview.

Edit: from a PR perspective, this does make a lot of sense for MS: use a board member/someone closely associated with them to probe the public's position, then give the public some assurance to ensure they don't all leave for Apple, while at the same time allowing the state to see that MS's support of Apple in this case isn't concrete.

Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#14

Post by stephenitis »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #11

Notice how the headline makes sure to specify "over terrorist's phone" and not "over user privacy" or "against federal conscription by the FBI." Take a second and re-read the headline. What does it say? To me, it spells out Microsoft joins Apple to back terrorist's privacy against the FBI. The government couldn't have chosen a better case to publicize in search of a precedent in their favor. And the media isn't helpi…

Would "Terrorist User's" have been better?

Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#15

Post by gohrt »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #11

Notice how the headline makes sure to specify "over terrorist's phone" and not "over user privacy" or "against federal conscription by the FBI." Take a second and re-read the headline. What does it say? To me, it spells out Microsoft joins Apple to back terrorist's privacy against the FBI. The government couldn't have chosen a better case to publicize in search of a precedent in their favor. And the media isn't helpi…

The case is very much a about a phone. The case has implications for other phones, but the most direct point is about hacking one specific terrorist's phone.

Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#16

Post by tdicola »

FussyZeus wrote: post #5
wheaties wrote: post #2

Wow, so brilliant to have Bill Gates so he's pro-government intrusion and then the company back Apple. Update: This was not meant to troll. I fell for the mis-attributed quotes to Bill and thought he actually backed the FBI. I stand corrected.

Also Gates consults with Microsoft occasionally and is a large stakeholder but that does not mean Gates speaks for Microsoft, or that Microsoft speaks for Gates. In fact, they disagree pretty regularly.

He's a member of their board of directors and for a time was even the head of it. The board has more control than even the CEO so it's safe to say Gates is speaking for the company.

Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#17

Post by dudifordMann »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #11

Notice how the headline makes sure to specify "over terrorist's phone" and not "over user privacy" or "against federal conscription by the FBI." Take a second and re-read the headline. What does it say? To me, it spells out Microsoft joins Apple to back terrorist's privacy against the FBI. The government couldn't have chosen a better case to publicize in search of a precedent in their favor. And the media isn't helpi…

I was about to post that that is disingenuous and that they are backing apple due to the case at hand, which a software person knows relates to the intrusion matter at large, but... the majority of the population only cares about headlines and political platitudes that they can obtain in 10 seconds or less. "TLDR" is not just a meme, but a sad reality.

[edit] As in some might interpret this to be: "Wow the headline says Microsoft supports Terrorism too!!!" instead of appreciating that the request has much farther reaching implications.

Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#18

Post by rayiner »

matthewmcg wrote: post #12
ComputerGuru wrote: post #11

Notice how the headline makes sure to specify "over terrorist's phone" and not "over user privacy" or "against federal conscription by the FBI." Take a second and re-read the headline. What does it say? To me, it spells out Microsoft joins Apple to back terrorist's privacy against the FBI. The government couldn't have chosen a better case to publicize in search of a precedent in their favor. And the media isn't helpi…

Also that this is an order under the All Writs Act and not a search warrant. If I had a nickel for every time this is described in the press as Apple resisting a "warrant" or a "subpoena" I'd be able to make a seven figure donation to the EFF!

The order was issued to effectuate a search warrant for the phone: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2714001-SB-Shooter-O....

Re: Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

#19

Post by glibgil »

stephenitis wrote: post #14
ComputerGuru wrote: post #11

Notice how the headline makes sure to specify "over terrorist's phone" and not "over user privacy" or "against federal conscription by the FBI." Take a second and re-read the headline. What does it say? To me, it spells out Microsoft joins Apple to back terrorist's privacy against the FBI. The government couldn't have chosen a better case to publicize in search of a precedent in their favor. And the media isn't helpi…

Would "Terrorist User's" have been better?

No it wouldn't be better. 'user' would be better. That's literally what OP wrote. OP would like terrorist not mentioned in the headline. Why isn't that obvious to you?
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