Update: 13-Apr-2018
This week, Joseph Cox at Motherboard, published a great article highlighting the past and current use by law enforcement in the US of a tool called GreyKey. He followed that up with an article dedicated to the FBI’s response. This new info really slams home the political nature of the original FBI demand of Apple.
Apple and the FBI are currently winding their way through the US court system. This case started with the investigation of a specific attack and has snowballed into a showdown on the limits of personal privacy vs. community interests.
This is a politically charged and very tense issue for a number of reasons including; being tied to the attack in San Bernardino, a continuing lobbying effort around law enforcement “going dark”, and a counter-effort to protect personal privacy and security.
There is a lot of opinion and information being published about this issue. I've collected some of the highlights below to help make it easier to catch up on the issue.
If you're interested in the timeline, you can read this quick summary from CNET or go in depth with the references below;
Timeline
- Week 1
- Week 2
- Week 3
- Week 4
- Week 5
- Week 6
- Week 8
16-Feb-2106
- A Message to Our Customers, from Apple
17-Feb-2016
- a summary timeline from The Verge
- Apple vows to resist FBI demand to crack iPhone linked to San Bernardino attacks, by Ellen Nakashima
- Tim Cook: U.S. government wants ‘something we consider too dangerous to create’, by Ellen Nakashima and J. Freedom du Lac
- Why Apple is in a historic fight with the government over one iPhone, by Ellen Nakashima
- The centuries-old law the government wants to use to unlock a terrorist’s iPhone by Andrea Peterson
18-Feb-2016
- Apple, FBI, and the Burden of Forensic Methodology, by noted iOS forensics expert Jonathan Ździarski
- Apple's Principled Privacy Stance Also Makes Good Business Sense by Matthew Deluca for NBC News
- 10 Reasons Farook’s Work Phone Likely Won’t Have Any Evidence, by noted iOS forensics expert Jonathan Ździarski
- Apple vs. FBI is epic fight over privacy and national security by the team at the Los Angeles Times
- How Tim Cook, in iPhone Battle, Became a Bulwark for Digital Privacy by Katie Benner and Nicole Perlroth
Lost in the noise today is this terrifying detail: Apple can update the Secure Enclave without wiping the data on it https://t.co/98oKW370oR— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) February 18, 2016
19-Feb-2016
- Congress Seeks Apple Testimony Amid FBI Row Over Encryption, by Chris Strohm
- Apple: We tried to help FBI terror probe, but someone changed iCloud password, by Cyrus Farivar
- Justice Department Calls Apple’s Refusal to Unlock iPhone a ‘Marketing Strategy’ by Eric Lichtblau
- Secret Memo Details U.S.’s Broader Strategy to Crack Phones by Michael Riley and Jordan Robertson
Best summary and analysis of the FBI's assault on iOS security: https://t.co/V0BB8GLrm6 pic.twitter.com/zMWyoIlwLa— DHH (@dhh) February 19, 2016
20-Feb-2016
Just Google "FBI phone encryption" and work your way back through the articles. You'll see when they switched to the terrorism angle.— Matthew Green (@matthewdgreen) February 20, 2016
Don't take my word for this. The FBI has been very clear that their need to crack phones goes way beyond terrorism. pic.twitter.com/RXgimmDoSg— Matthew Green (@matthewdgreen) February 20, 2016
The FBI’s attack on Apple could force Congress to rule on encryption https://t.co/fnTiAFEbVW pic.twitter.com/uNXSlb8fu7— The Verge (@verge) February 20, 2016
21-Feb-2016
- Exclusive: San Bernardino victims to oppose Apple on iPhone encryption, by Dan Levine
- On FBI’s Interference with iCloud Backups, by noted iOS forensics expert Jonathan Ździarski
- FBI Says Resetting San Bernardino Shooter’s Apple ID Password Not a Screwup, by Dawn Chmielewski
- On the San Bernardino Suspect’s Apple ID Password Reset by noted Apple pundit John Gruber of Daring Fireball
22-Feb-2016
- Decrypting an iPhone for the FBI, by Bruce Schneier
- Apple CEO: Feds should withdraw demand for iPhone hack help, by Tami Abdollah
- The Lowdown on the Apple-FBI Showdown, by Brian Krebs
- Apple v FBI: engineers would be ashamed to break their own encryption, by Nellie Bowles
NEW: $AAPL involved in other court fights beyond San Bernardino; Justice Dept seeking data from ~12 other iPhones in criminal cases - DJ— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) February 23, 2016
While Apple publicly aligns itself as a defender of privacy, Google isn't even bothering. https://t.co/FV4caIvmP8— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) February 22, 2016
23-Feb-2016
- From SANS, iPhone Forensics - Separating the Facts from Fiction. A Technical Autopsy of the Apple - FBI Debate and watch the discussion;
Pay attention to this. https://t.co/GGIAYDxuv7— Matthew Green (@matthewdgreen) February 23, 2016
- Pro-encryption lawmakers see 'Apple vs. FBI' fight as a chance to educate Congress by Eric Geller
- Apple-FBI Fight Asks: Is Code Protected as Free Speech? by Adam Satariano
FBI/Apple battle "is over who gets to control software and thus the basic rules of the world we live in."- @granick https://t.co/mQu4whgjw1— Kashmir Hill (@kashhill) February 23, 2016
Apple v FBI debate remind anyone of Jurassic Park? "We want you to create mutant dinosaurs, but only for safe captivity on this one island."— Jon Fortt (@jonfortt) February 23, 2016
Unsealed: The list of federal court cases where the US Justice Department wants Apple to extract data from iPhones: https://t.co/664LxckX9A— Michael A. Scarcella (@MikeScarcella) February 23, 2016
24-Feb-2016
- Why Canada isn’t having a policy debate over encryption, by Matthew Braga
- The case for using iTunes, not iCloud, to back up your iPhone, by Andrew Cunningham
- I got hacked mid-air while writing an Apple-FBI story, by Steven Petrow
- The Apple-FBI Fight Isn’t About Privacy vs. Security. Don’t Be Misled, by Brian Barrett
- Apple Is Said to Be Trying to Make It Harder to Hack iPhones, by Matt Apuzzo and Katie Benner
- Exclusive: Apple CEO Tim Cook Says iPhone-Cracking Software ‘Equivalent of Cancer’, by ABC News
- The FBI wants a backdoor only it can use – but wanting it doesn’t make it possible, by Cory Doctorow
FBI's demands undermine security for Apple, the Internet, and you. Get the facts: https://t.co/w1BPdW9IuI— EFF (@EFF) February 25, 2016
Best part of the Apple v. FBI case: Apple has nation-state level financial resources, and has no problem using them https://t.co/YrNH9ZEs9b— Jessy Irwin (@jessysaurusrex) February 25, 2016
Manhattan district attorney: Apple forced-unlocks shouldn't be limited to serious crimes. https://t.co/Pvv6JBwWaw pic.twitter.com/dph32BrUEr— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) February 24, 2016
Dropbox competitor Box intends to encrypt user data so it can't turn it over to the gov. https://t.co/GSz4tjLSpb pic.twitter.com/ty4b8PqI4b— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) February 24, 2016
Reuters: FBI fight with Apple may cause loss of confidence in auto-update mechanisms. https://t.co/GSz4tjLSpb pic.twitter.com/pkasNn0ck0— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) February 24, 2016
25-Feb-2016
- Apple To Tighten iCloud Backup Encryption, by Daring Fireball
- Microsoft takes Apple’s side in iPhone dispute with FBI, by Rachel Lerman and Matt Day
The founding fathers used crypto to protect their communications from the gov they created. https://t.co/2Zii0NjgiX pic.twitter.com/eIugnaqE7S— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) February 25, 2016
The burden ordered by the court is a burden on all of us, and wouldn’t do anything to lessen similar crimes. pic.twitter.com/64hEMzeQAV— Jonathan Ździarski (@JZdziarski) February 25, 2016
By Rachel Lerman Matt Day
Here’s Apple’s long-awaited legal response to the FBI https://t.co/M5e0mdXybq pic.twitter.com/SJ0EymL1ce— BGR.com (@BGR) February 25, 2016
FBI director: iPhone unlock case may “guide how other courts handle these requests” https://t.co/qLDYn2EtNS pic.twitter.com/jttKJtnFPG— ZDNet (@ZDNet) February 25, 2016
Main developer of Signal for iOS going to work for Apple. Tough not to read between the lines here. https://t.co/S181aYM9eS— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) February 25, 2016
- Tech Companies to Unite in Support of Apple, by Deepa Seetharaman and Jack Nicas
- Really understanding Apple's legal brief in the FBI case, by Nilay Patel
Apple brief p. 27 says USG, citing no case, claims that courts have compelled vendors “to write some amount of code." Did it happen in FISC?— Barton Gellman (@bartongellman) February 25, 2016
28-Feb-2016
29-Feb-2016
- Here's what Apple’s top lawyer will tell Congress tomorrow, by Alex Heath
- Apple Wins Major Court Victory Against FBI in a Case Similar to San Bernardino, by Glenn Greenwald and Jenna McLaughlin
FBI claims it has no records of its decision to delete its recommendation to encrypt your p… https://t.co/8aiHINkSTr pic.twitter.com/q3NC78weIp— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) February 29, 2016
01-Mar-2016
02-Mar-2016
- Apple Gets Tech Industry Backing in iPhone Dispute, Despite Misgivings, by Nick Wingfield and Mike Isaac
03-Mar-2016
Update: Families of San Bernardino victims file brief supporting FBI in encryption case https://t.co/A44cehsDY1 pic.twitter.com/T4ASrPc4xe— 9to5Mac (@9to5mac) March 3, 2016
Success for the FBI in FBI v. Apple is not going to be some magical law enforcement "front door". It'll be this. https://t.co/j6A58NUpAu— Matthew Green (@matthewdgreen) March 3, 2016
04-Mar-2016
- Who Needs Apple When the FBI Could Hack Terrorist iPhone Itself, by Selina Wang
- Mr. Fart’s Favorite Colors, Some thoughts on Apple v. FBI, by Blake Ross
We have to remain ever vigilant. https://t.co/LKnKfXKQV4— Ann Cavoukian (@AnnCavoukian) March 4, 2016
05-Mar-2016
- Apple vs. FBI: The “Bad” Guys Always Get the “Good” Weapons, by Susan Richardson
- Apple vs. FBI: The tip of the iceberg as laws can’t keep up with tech, by Vivek Wadhwa
FBI forcing Apple to backdoor the iPhone is virtually identical to FBI issuing you your passcode for your devices.— Jonathan Ździarski (@JZdziarski) March 4, 2016
All 20 Filings In Support Of Apple Against The FBI
https://t.co/NY87fV6QG0— David T.S. Fraser (@privacylawyer) March 5, 2016
Twitter shreds San Bernardino police #cyberpathogen https://t.co/zEcY0Nm1Qp— Rick Holland (@rickhholland) March 5, 2016
06-Mar-2016
- Apple VP: The FBI wants to roll back safeguards that keep us a step ahead of criminals, by Craig Federighi
07-Mar-2016
- The World’s Not Waiting for California: France Moves to Enforce Decryption, by Daniel Severson
- Justice Department Asks Judge to Review Pro-Apple Ruling in iPhone Case, by Devlin Barrett
Apple iOS v9.2.1 - Multiple PassCode Bypass Vulnerabilities - https://t.co/JCCt6vJ17B … researchers assure me it's been verified.— Alan Woodward (@ProfWoodward) March 7, 2016
11-Mar-2016
- FBI 'could force Apple to hand over private key', by Alex Hern
- Microsoft: We Store Disk Encryption Keys, But We’ve Never Given Them to Cops, by Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
- Government Can't Let Smartphones Be `Black Boxes,' Obama Says, by Justin Sink
Either FBI doesn't appreciate the significance of its demand, or it doesn't want the public to appreciate it. https://t.co/tHxtnqwT4L— Jameel Jaffer (@JameelJaffer) March 11, 2016
12-Mar-2016
- An Example of “Warrant-Friendly Security”, by Jonathan Zdziarski
- WhatsApp Encryption Said to Stymie Wiretap Order, by Matt Apuzzo
- Why Are We Fighting the Crypto Wars Again?, by Steven Levy
- New York City's $8 Master Key, by Daring Fireball
UK's coming #IPBill forces all tech companies to build back doors, gags them about the fact and their use. Dystopian https://t.co/UtaCf93vYI— DHH (@dhh) March 12, 2016
Dear Pres. Obama: you just described the reason people support strong encryption--because they can't trust politics. pic.twitter.com/839feTh2ak— Matthew Green (@matthewdgreen) March 12, 2016
The Privacy Protection Act makes journalist documents warrant-proof. Journalists use iPhones. There are reasons justifying such a design.— Jonathan Ździarski (@JZdziarski) March 12, 2016
A diplomatic pouch is warrant-proof. Diplomats use iPhones. There are reasons to justify a warrant proof design.— Jonathan Ździarski (@JZdziarski) March 12, 2016
Under state laws, many clergy, lawyers and doctors’ documents are warrant-proof. There is justification for warrant proof iPhone design.— Jonathan Ździarski (@JZdziarski) March 12, 2016
Here we go. Line by line on why @POTUS is dangerously wrong on encryption. https://t.co/1WsdIj4oKU— Mike Masnick (@mmasnick) March 12, 2016
13-Mar-2016
14-Mar-2016
#FBI threatens to Force #Apple to Hand Over #iOS Source Code https://t.co/JrLdLIVSpt pic.twitter.com/qq2uUeFgQC— The Hacker News (@TheHackersNews) March 14, 2016
15-Mar-2016
16-Mar-2016
- Apple's Brief Hits the FBI With a Withering Fact Check, by Kim Zetter
- The Law is Clear: The FBI Cannot Make Apple Rewrite its OS, by Susan Crawford
17-Mar-2016
- Here’s the Full Transcript of TIME’s Interview With Apple CEO Tim Cook, by Nancy Gibbs and Lev Grossman
- The Apple Fight Is About All of Us, by Rainey Reitman
- The FBI vs Not Just Apple, by Emily Hong
DOJ asked FISA court to force tech firms to hand over source code. Scoop by @zackwhittaker https://t.co/RkkkxgEzOo pic.twitter.com/zFRlzvhYn5— Christopher Soghoian (@csoghoian) March 17, 2016
Soldiers refuse unlawful orders. So do engineers. https://t.co/TDI2bW9Qmz pic.twitter.com/Ks22gkPGvy— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) March 17, 2016
Great speculation about job prospects for principled Apple engineers, from a former Apple security manager pic.twitter.com/FvbWN4Hce2— Parker Higgins (@xor) March 17, 2016
This is going to be the new bar for cloud services companies. https://t.co/rQTorlcjLF— Matthew Green (@matthewdgreen) March 17, 2016
18-Mar-2016
20-Mar-2106
- The Behind-the-Scenes Fight Between Apple and the FBI, by Adam Satariano
- Tim Cook addresses FBI & encryption controversy at Apple’s press event: ‘we owe it to our customers’, by Jordan Kahn
21-Mar-2106
- Feds gain postponement of iPhone hearing, by Josh Gerstein and Tony Romm
- Attack of the Week: Apple iMessage, by Matthew Green
- Apple 'privacy czars' grapple with internal conflicts over user data, by Julia Love
22-Mar-2106
25-Mar-2106
26-Mar-2106
28-Mar-2106
- Apple's San Bernardino fight is officially over as government confirms working attack, by Russell Brandom
- U.S. Says It Has Unlocked iPhone Without Apple, by Katie Benner and Eric Lichtblau
- FBI Breaks Into San Bernardino iPhone, by Jonathan Ździarski
Here's @Snowden weeks ago on the FBI's now-disproven claim that it needs Apple for access https://t.co/0hVfnRFKOE pic.twitter.com/WjWVSuImgo— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 28, 2016
From Apple’s iOS Security guide. shakes fist pic.twitter.com/kMvHIB5Yg5— Jonathan Ździarski (@JZdziarski) March 28, 2016
It took just over a month after FBI testified under oath that they couldn’t access a locked iPhone… to access a locked iPhone.— Jonathan Ździarski (@JZdziarski) March 28, 2016
Shock, FBI proves it don't need your courts. The legal process was them being nice.— Fenrir (@semibogan) March 28, 2016
Fallacy of "give one country a crypto backdoor & you'll have to give others too" is that it's no longer yours to give, it's theirs to find— the grugq (@thegrugq) March 28, 2016
