Crowd at San Francisco Apple Store protests FBI’s iPhone backdoor request

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Screen Shot 2016-02-18 at 10.25.15
Protestors show their support for Apple.
Photo: DocPop CC

A crowd of several dozen protesters gathered in front of Apple’s flagship retail store in Francisco last night to protest the U.S. government’s attempt to force Apple to aid the FBI in hacking into an iPhone.

Ranging from privacy advocates to casual iPhone owners, the crowd argued that such a move sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the safety and security of millions of iOS users around the world.

The event was organized by digital rights group Fight for the Future, and featured speakers from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Similar events are planned for Tuesday, February 23.

Fight the power!
Fight the power!
Photo: EFF CC

“Governments have been frothing at the mouth hoping for an opportunity to pressure companies like Apple into building backdoors into their products to enable more sweeping surveillance,” Fight for the Future campaign director Evan Greer said in a press release, issued before the event. “It’s shameful that they’re exploiting the tragedy in San Bernardino to push that agenda.”

As one Twitter user put it, it’s unusual to see crowds of protestors gathering to show support of a company’s actions, although in this case Apple appears to be winning the public support battle.

Other figures who have rushed to show their support for Apple include Google CEO Sundar Pichai and internet privacy activist and former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

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Source: Fightforthefuture

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