Technology issues have made their way onto the political scene. How do you think issues like a candidates stance on encryption would factor into the election? Do you think this is an important issue? Why or why not?
Article: Where Do the Presidential Candidates Stand On Encryption?
It’s a tough argument here. Of course the Federal Government needs to know what information is on that phone, but creating a back door to Apple’s encryption of their mobile devices opens up the potential for other dangers on a much larger scale. Most of the candidates admit this fact too, when discussing the downside to forcing Apple to create this back door. It comes down to whether or not risking the privacy of every iPhone user is worth solving one case. This one case isn’t going to stop terrorism forever, and it may even turn out that there isn’t any useful data on the phone as it is. To me, the common sense answer, as unfortunate and as frustrating as it is, is that sacrificing the privacy of millions of citizens will do more harm than creating a back door to Apple encryption will do good.
Does that mean everyone should just give up on this case, or even give up on unlocking the phone? No. It just means that both Apple and the Federal Governemnt will need to work towards unlocking the phone and obtaining the information through other means.
Creating a back door to Apple’s encryption has it’s good and bad side. The Federal Government will be able to know important and useful information about others attacks and probably prevent future terrorist attacks, that’s the good side. In the other side, many Apple users will be vulnerable with their private information making it easy for hackers to enter any iphone, but is that or the life of many other people. I think we have to be concerned on what is important in this case.
It is hard to decide whether Apple should create its back door encryption or not as it has both pros and cons. If it does, the Federal Government can access information in order to prevent attacks as well as other future problems relating. However, it will also easier for hackers to steal information from users. Before making decision, Apple should take this into great consideration.