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Microsoft, Google, Facebook Back Apple in Blocked Phone Case

bloomberg.com

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

#31

Post by snuxoll »

fluxquanta wrote: post #9
mtgx wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they're only backing it now because of the backlash against Gates. They sure took their sweet time, either way.

>They sure took their sweet time, either way. Did they? Do we need to know every company's opinion on every controversial issue related to their business immediately?

Large enterprises are also not startups, they don't get to have the CEO publish a blog post within an hour of news like this. PR departments are careful to craft messages and narratives, shareholder value needs to be protected, and legal bases need to be covered.

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

#32

Post by matthewmcg »

rayiner wrote: post #18
matthewmcg wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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... .

Right, but Apple's not challenging the warrant, they're challenging the related order.

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

#33

Post by Zigurd »

It's still a muddle, and the tendentious Bloomberg headline does not help. Microsoft's position is extremely cautious, but they had to side with Apple because opening the "all writs" can of worms to compel software creation and signing binaries is going to jack up law enforcement compliance costs to unlimited levels. Gates, in the quote in the article, is also, still, trying to have it both ways: “The extreme view that government always gets everything, nobody supports that. Having the government be blind, people don’t support that.” Evidently he thinks conditional privacy is sufficient and that the issue can be separated from encryption bans and an "all writs" model that compels new things to be created at the whim of FBI agents.

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

#34

Post by oldmanjay »

tdicola wrote: post #16
FussyZeus wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

While it's your freedom to hold an opinion that is contrary to factual reality, I'm not sure how useful it is. What does it help you to misapprehend that Bill Gates is a spokesman for Microsoft?

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

#35

Post by ck2 »

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…

At least it is Apple the press is attacking, they can survive this.

Any other company would be torn to shreds by the purposeful fear-mongering the press does because of the clicks and eyeballs it generates.

I am "pleased" to see Apple's lawyers arguing against conscription though. It was exactly my thought the first time I heard about this and Apple being ordered to create something that didn't exist before, exclusively for the government. Kind of matches that 270 year old law the FBI is trying to use.

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

#36

Post by facetube »

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!

It was also ex parte; Apple wasn't even there to represent their interests in the dispute.

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

#37

Post by dewiz »

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…

As long as laws are not absolute truth, and are written by misguided representatives, and representatives are intimidated by the possibility to lose their power, and fear can be generated through misinformation, when it comes to freedom of speech and thinking, we are all domestic terrorists by "definition" [1].

[1] https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/terrorism/terrorism...

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

#38

Post by rayiner »

matthewmcg wrote: post #32
rayiner wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Right, but Apple's not challenging the warrant, they're challenging the related order.

It wouldn't make any sense for Apple to challenge the warrant--the government isn't searching its property.

The media is reporting this correctly: they're noting that the government is acting pursuant to a warrant to clarify that they're not asking Apple to assist with a warrant-less search.

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

#40

Post by randyrand »

gohrt wrote: post #15
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.

True. But there are other also true headlines that are more descriptive.

"MS backs Apple in debate over phone unlocking"

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