Security News > 2020 > January > Apple Denies FBI Request to Unlock Shooter’s iPhone—Again

Apple once again is drawing the line at breaking into a password-protected iPhone for a criminal investigation, refusing a request by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to help unlock the iPhones of a shooter responsible for an attack in Florida.

While Apple said it's helping in the FBI's investigation of the Pensacola shooting-refuting criticism to the contrary-the company said it won't help the FBI unlock two phones the agency said belonged to Alshamrani.

Even though Apple won't help the Feds unlock the devices, the company said it's been responding "Promptly" to requests for assistance and "Sharing information with FBI offices in Jacksonville, Pensacola and New York," according to the statement.

Attorney General William Barr followed up that request with a declaration Monday that the shooting was an act of terrorism and reiterated law enforcement's plea to Apple to unlock Alshamrani's phones-an iPhone 7 and iPhone 5.

The scenario is similar to one that occurred when the FBI asked Apple to unlock the phone of Syed Farook, one of two men who carried out a shooting attack on a city meeting in San Bernardino, Calif. It also sets up a scenario in which a court could be the deciding factor if Apple must unlock the phones or not.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/apple-denies-fbi-request-to-unlock-shooters-iphone-again/151797/