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U.S. Drops California Case Against Apple After Accessing iPhone

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Re: U.S. Drops California Case Against Apple After Accessing iPhone

#121
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This claim seems dubious at best. There's no proof that they got access, and it's in their best interest to claim they did. Wouldn't that be perjury? https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2778264-Apple-Status...

Sure, but what's a little perjury between government officials: http://www.salon.com/2013/06/12/how_james_clapper_will_get_a...

Lying to an indifferent, disagreeable, and dysfunctional legislature is one thing. Lying directly to a federal judge with contempt power is how one ends up in jail before packing up your suitcase and walking out the courtroom.

Re: U.S. Drops California Case Against Apple After Accessing iPhone

#122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Well, welcome to life in a democracy. The problem is not that things change in a democracy. The problem is that the change we get does not represent the will of the people. A majority of Americans is dissatisfied with the Patriot Act [1] yet it keeps getting renewed. A majority of Americans thinks political spending is corrupt [2] and that the political system is rigged, yet we get Citizens United to pour even more…

The US isn't based on majority rule. No one wants that.

No, but I think Americans want a semblance of representation. When The People have close to 0% sway in Congress' opinions on bills, and corporations have like 70%, I'd say that's a pretty big freaking deal, no?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tu32CCA_Ig

Every time there's an argument about wanting more democracy in the US, it seems someone always appears to say "but that's mob rule!". No, nobody wants mob rule. But there's a canyon between what exists now and what a more representative government could look like.

Re: U.S. Drops California Case Against Apple After Accessing iPhone

#124
post #11

I feel like cases shouldn't be droppable unless both parties mutually agree, and the courts also must first agree.the courts should not agree if it's a case that could set a precedent that can have far reaching implications. What if next time, a smaller player than Apple was caught in this sort of case, and they can't fight back as easily? Then it'd be easier to setup a precedent favourable to one party. This seems l…

IANAL, but it wasn't a "case" in a conventional sense of plaintiff and defendant.

At issue was an order, issued by a court at the government's request, that Apple was contesting.

If the order is moot or withdrawn, Apple no longer has anything to contest.

Re: U.S. Drops California Case Against Apple After Accessing iPhone

#125
Was I the only one who assumed the DOJ could unlock the phone for a while now, but instead chose to legally force Apple to do it to set a precedence? This news almost seems like a win for Apple; if there was a good chance that the DOJ would have won the case, they probably would have pursued it till the end.

Re: U.S. Drops California Case Against Apple After Accessing iPhone

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Somewhat agree, but Apple DID have a court order they were fighting. They did choose to fight this legally adjudicated and issued order. The owner of the phone and the law enforcement both wanted the phone decrypted. FWIW, I agree that privacy is ignored and should be respected, but apple chose this fight. I'm glad they did, but they knew it would cost them.

And the DoJ stopped fighting. If the DoJ ultimately won the case, then it's fair that Apple should have to pay their legal costs. But since using a 200 year old law to force Apple to do work they don't want to do was a legal stretch, if the DoJ lost the case then again I'd say the DoJ should pay Apple's legal costs.

The law in question was passed the same week that congress submitted the fourth amendment.

Please stop parroting "200 year old law".

Re: U.S. Drops California Case Against Apple After Accessing iPhone

#127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Well, welcome to life in a democracy. The problem is not that things change in a democracy. The problem is that the change we get does not represent the will of the people. A majority of Americans is dissatisfied with the Patriot Act [1] yet it keeps getting renewed. A majority of Americans thinks political spending is corrupt [2] and that the political system is rigged, yet we get Citizens United to pour even more…

The US isn't based on majority rule. No one wants that.

Exactly -- because the US isn't a democracy (majority rule), it's a democratic republic.

Re: U.S. Drops California Case Against Apple After Accessing iPhone

#130

I'm seeing a lot of comments to the effect that the government will just try again at some point. Well, welcome to life in a democracy. Nothing is ever settled with finality because there are plenty of ways for future generations to change the laws we cherish today--for good or ill. We could revoke the 13th and 14th Amendments and have slavery again--there is no legal impediment to that. That we don't do that is a re…

Well, welcome to life in a democracy. Nothing is ever settled with finality because there are plenty of ways for future generations to change the laws we cherish today--for good or ill.

Some thing seem to be permanent. High priority lobbying goals for big corporations. (Examples: Disney & copyright extensions. Corn & corn subsidies. Car dealerships.)

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