WASHINGTON — Now that the FBI has hacked into the San Bernardino terrorist’s iPhone without Apple’s help, others are asking for the FBI’s help.
CBS News obtained a letter from the FBI to local police departments offering assistance in unlocking Apple phones if it will help provide evidence in a case.
According to the Associated Press, the FBI has said it will help unlock an iPhone and iPad in an Arkansas murder case. That was only days after the FBI announced it had unlocked the San Bernardino phone.
Former FBI agent Clint Van Zandt agrees with what the FBI did. “We know that Apple was very strong in resisting any attempt by the FBI, the FBI even had a court order,” he says.
That court order was to force Apple to unlock the San Bernardino terrorist’s phone. Van Zandt says Apple refused to help the FBI for two reasons; for the privacy of Apple users and to show that no one could break into Apple’s phones.
He says that the FBI helping other law enforcement agencies that legitimately need help will move cases forward and that it is another tool for law enforcement to make use of, especially in cases of terrorism.
“If we’re fighting terrorism in this country, we have to do it together with law enforcement, the public and corporations. We’re going to lose if we don’t,” he says.
