Google CEO Sundar Pichai took to Twitter in response to Apple CEO Tim Cook's rare letter on Tuesday that addressed an important ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym, which ordered Apple to provide the FBI with access to the data within the iPhone that belonged to Syed Farook and wife Tashfeen Malik, the terrorists responsible for the tragic San Bernardino shooting that took the lives of 14 victims.
Fundamentally, the legal decision demands that Apple build a backdoor to the iPhone. For Google CEO Pichai, the ramifications of the order "could be a troubling precident."
"...The U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone," wrote Tim Cook in his letter on Tuesday. "Specifically, the FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation. In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession."
Google is the developer for Android, the other mobile operating system giant that serves millions of smartphones all over the world. No doubt, any ruling made to Apple iOS directly affects the status quo for the Android OS as well.
"Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise users’ privacy," Pichai tweeted. "We build secure products to keep your information safe and we give law enforcement access to data based on valid legal orders. But that's wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices and data."
For Google CEO Sundar Pichai's complete response on the matter, check out the tweets below:
1/5 Important post by @tim_cook. Forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise users’ privacy
— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai) February 17, 2016
2/5 We know that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face significant challenges in protecting the public against crime and terrorism
— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai) February 17, 2016
3/5 We build secure products to keep your information safe and we give law enforcement access to data based on valid legal orders
— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai) February 17, 2016
4/5 But that’s wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices & data. Could be a troubling precedent
— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai) February 17, 2016
5/5 Looking forward to a thoughtful and open discussion on this important issue
— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai) February 17, 2016
