Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#1

Post by IBM » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 8:48 PM UTC

Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist
nytimes.com

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#2

Post by moioci » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 10:06 PM UTC

Interesting parallel with Lavabit pointed out at the end of the article. Would the DOJ be willing to risk shutting down the biggest and most profitable corporation on earth over this?

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#3

Post by orik » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:07 PM UTC

moioci wrote: post #2

Interesting parallel with Lavabit pointed out at the end of the article. Would the DOJ be willing to risk shutting down the biggest and most profitable corporation on earth over this?

I believe when the government twisted Yahoo's hand and they put up a fight, Yahoo was given a fine that increased exponentially every day they didn't comply.

Yahoo would have owed the US gov. a sum equivalent to the GDP by the end of a month.

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#4

Post by giancarlostoro » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:13 PM UTC

orik wrote: post #3

moioci wrote: post #2

Interesting parallel with Lavabit pointed out at the end of the article. Would the DOJ be willing to risk shutting down the biggest and most profitable corporation on earth over this?

I believe when the government twisted Yahoo's hand and they put up a fight, Yahoo was given a fine that increased exponentially every day they didn't comply. Yahoo would have owed the US gov. a sum equivalent to the GDP by the end of a month.

If the engineers got fired or quit their jobs what could be done then I wonder?

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#5

Post by zippergz » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:18 PM UTC

moioci wrote: post #2

Interesting parallel with Lavabit pointed out at the end of the article. Would the DOJ be willing to risk shutting down the biggest and most profitable corporation on earth over this?

My guess: yes.

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#6

Post by kabdib » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:24 PM UTC

giancarlostoro wrote: post #4

orik wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe when the government twisted Yahoo's hand and they put up a fight, Yahoo was given a fine that increased exponentially every day they didn't comply. Yahoo would have owed the US gov. a sum equivalent to the GDP by the end of a month.

If the engineers got fired or quit their jobs what could be done then I wonder?

Apple HR to security engineer: "You're fired! The color of your hair is all wrong!" (Yes, you can do this in California)

Security engineer: "Meep?"

HR: "That's right. Oh, and here, since you were such a great employee (up until we noticed your hair, anyway), have this extremely generous dollar amount severance package. Maybe if your hair is a different color someday we'll hire you back."

:

Apple to FBI: "We have no one with the expertise to work on this. Golly, sorry about that."

Is the FBI then going to make a grab for source code, signing keys, and conscript people to do the work?

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#7

Post by dogecoinbase » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:24 PM UTC

giancarlostoro wrote: post #4

orik wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe when the government twisted Yahoo's hand and they put up a fight, Yahoo was given a fine that increased exponentially every day they didn't comply. Yahoo would have owed the US gov. a sum equivalent to the GDP by the end of a month.

If the engineers got fired or quit their jobs what could be done then I wonder?

Impossible to know without the actual employment documents, but also curious if the DoJ could be considered a tortfeasor for disrupting an employment contract in that case.

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#8

Post by tonydiv » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:25 PM UTC

moioci wrote: post #2

Interesting parallel with Lavabit pointed out at the end of the article. Would the DOJ be willing to risk shutting down the biggest and most profitable corporation on earth over this?

Yeah, they believe they can get whatever they want. They won't care about the implications of their demands.

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#9

Post by plorkyeran » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:29 PM UTC

kabdib wrote: post #6

giancarlostoro wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the engineers got fired or quit their jobs what could be done then I wonder?

Apple HR to security engineer: "You're fired! The color of your hair is all wrong!" (Yes, you can do this in California) Security engineer: "Meep?" HR: "That's right. Oh, and here, since you were such a great employee (up until we noticed your hair, anyway), have this extremely generous dollar amount severance package. Maybe if your hair is a different color someday we'll hire you back." : Apple to FBI: "We have no o…

> Is the FBI then going to make a grab for source code, signing keys, and conscript people to do the work?

I think it's become clear that they'd at least try.

Re: Apple Encryption Engineers, If Ordered to Unlock iPhone, Might Resist

#10

Post by smitherfield » Thu, Mar 17, 2016, 11:30 PM UTC

kabdib wrote: post #6

giancarlostoro wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the engineers got fired or quit their jobs what could be done then I wonder?

Apple HR to security engineer: "You're fired! The color of your hair is all wrong!" (Yes, you can do this in California) Security engineer: "Meep?" HR: "That's right. Oh, and here, since you were such a great employee (up until we noticed your hair, anyway), have this extremely generous dollar amount severance package. Maybe if your hair is a different color someday we'll hire you back." : Apple to FBI: "We have no o…

At-will employment does not extend to firing people in order to not comply with a court order.