Abstract

This case is about the fight between Apple and FBI over the unlocking of an iPhone used by one of the terrorists in the 2015 San Bernardino attack. The authorities could not gain access to the iPhone due to the advanced encryption used by Apple to protect the privacy of its customers. But Apple declined to decrypt the phone and filed an appeal in court challenging an earlier order by a federal magistrate. Some critics opined that Apple just wanted to protect its brand image by declining to unlock the iPhone and had no interest in protecting the interests of customers.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• To understand the differences of opinion that can crop up between governments and companies
• To understand the legal issues that businesses might face
• To understand the importance of protecting the interests of consumers for businesses
• To understand the strategies to be followed by businesses to maintain good relations with law enforcement agencies.

Keywords

Apple,iPhone,America’s Justice Department,Google,Rizwan Farook,Tashfeen Malik,Terrorism,National Security Agency,San Bernardino Attack,Tim Cook,FBI,Android,Supreme Court,Edward Snowden,Encryption