The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a chilling warning to Apple executives as a response to increased privacy protections added to iOS 8: Children might die because we can’t hack into bad guys’ iMessages.
Deputy Attorney General James Cole met with Apple executives last month, reports the Wall Street Journal, to discuss privacy issues, but after making the ridiculous claim that the blood of dead children will be on Apple’s hands if it doesn’t give the NSA access to iMessages, the talks have ended in a standoff.
“The No. 2 official at the Justice Department delivered a blunt message last month to Apple Inc. executives: New encryption technology that renders locked iPhones impervious to law enforcement would lead to tragedy. A child would die, he said, because police wouldn’t be able to scour a suspect’s phone, according to people who attended the meeting.”
The sensationalist claims come just a few weeks after the director of the FBI made similar accusations against Apple in a Washington Post column, saying iOS encryption would lead to deaths. The director’s iOS death-factory claims were eventually retracted by the paper, but the government’s venom toward Apple doesn’t appear to be lessening.
iMessages are now encrypted in iOS 8 and can’t be accessed without the users’ passcode, even with a court-issued warrant. Law enforcement officials are afraid they’ll be unable to catch terrorist and killers without the access. However, Apple executives reportedly told DOJ officials they could get the same information elsewhere, like from telecommunications networks, backup computers, or even others phones.
Of course getting that info from other sources will take a little more leg work from law enforcement. Police can still get the information they want off your iPhone, it’s just much harder. And who has time for that when you can spread inflammatory accusations about Apple killing children.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
17 responses to “iMessage encryption will kill kids, DOJ warns”
Geez that’s pretty extreme, the DOJ needs to do some real work for a change.
What horseshit. What is more likely to happen is cops will continue to use their
spying techniques to line up targets, send in swat teams and continue to kill children with guns and grenades.
The more the security bullies shout crap like “you’re on the side of terrorists” and “your killing kids,” the more they demonstrate why they can’t be trusted to have free access to private information. They whine they can’t get access to our private data “even with a court warrant,” but they’ve completely left court warrants behind anyway and just scoop up everything without warrants. I really hope Google, Apple and the rest hang tough on this. The loss of the NSA reform bill by one vote the other night (thanks for nothing Republican obstructionists) was a major blow to democracy. And, of course, Obama has been nothing but a horror show when it comes to individual liberties. The only people who seem to care about privacy (from government) are the tech companies, which is bizarre, but highly appreciated.
So what, we will now start to monitor sms and arrest whoever used the word kill? That is pathetic.
u used the word ‘kill’ the authorities have been notified!!!
Then the UNIX community should be alerted, since ‘kill’ is a common command to send signals to a running process.
The authorities are coming for you now!!!
Nothing like fear to get what you want. Governments been using fear for thousands of years…
LOL
Children might die because USA let bad or good guys have guns first ?
Good old fear-mongering eh?
This is WAY over the top. The DOJ should be ashamed using children to further their semi-illicit & unconstitutional tactics. I’m usually a guy that isn’t a “don’t spy on me, bro” kinda guy, but this has absolutely crossed the line IMO
It turns out that iMessage encryption seems more dangerous to America’s kids than automatic weapons bought with no sort of control.
Wow! Now, THAT is freedom. (only not)
“Will somebody please think of the children!” –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh2sWSVRrmo
LOL why would they need the messages to find a terriost – how about we just give you this GPS date or it’s connected to this cell tower… #DOJ # FAIL
You know, freedom of any kind may lead to deaths. It’s the balancing of liberty and security that has been the challenge as of late. Massive data sweeps, unlimited surveillance of personal communications… It’s all a bit too much like destroying liberty in an effort to preserve it. I understand the desire of those charged with our security to want to use every available tool and resource in their cause but that just isn’t possible in a republic founded on principles of due process, law, and inalienable human rights. Does that pose a challenge when having to counter the efforts of individuals, groups, and nation states that abhor such principles? It sure does! But this has always defined the struggle for freedom. It’s time we reminded our governments of this fact.
Introducing neals…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UCyFdGOdiUw