Erneut meldet sich Apple-Chef Tim Cook  zu Wort. Dieses Mal in einem Memo an die Belegschaft von Apple. In Diesem fordert er einen Ausschuss oder ein Panel, damit die möglichen Konsequenzen der gerichtlichen Forderung, das iPhone 5c des San-Bernadino-Terroristen Farook zu entsperren, diskutiert werden können. Das FBI solle dafür alle Forderungen gegen Apple fallen lassen.

Cook äußert sich in dem Memo enttäuscht darüber, dass Apple als “uniqely Amercian company” nun in eine Postion gedrängt wird, die es in eine Gegenposition zur Regierung bringt. Es fühle sich nicht richtig an, schreibt der 55. jährige CEO, würde doch die Regierung dafür zuständig sein, die Freiheit und Freiheiten zu schützen.

Weiterhin schreibt er, dass Apple in keiner Weise Terror und terroristische Anschläge wie den von San Bernadino im Dezember 2015 gut heißen würde und dass man mit allen Mitteln, die zur Verfügung stünden, den Behörden bei der Ermittlung helfen würde und das auch bereits getan hätte.

Gleichzeitig fordert er, dass die gerichtlichen Forderungen gegen Apple fallen gelassen würden und stattdessen eine Kommission oder ein Panel bestehend aus Experten für Sicherheit, Strafverfolgung, zivilem Recht und Technik eingerichtet wird. Apple wäre seiner Aussage nach sehr gerne bereit, ebenfalls daran teilzunehmen.

Hier das Memo: (Quelle: Appleinsider)

Team,
Last week we asked our customers and people across the United States to join a public dialogue about important issues facing our country. In the week since that letter, I’ve been grateful for the thought and discussion we’ve heard and read, as well as the outpouring of support we’ve received from across America.

As individuals and as a company, we have no tolerance or sympathy for terrorists. When they commit unspeakable acts like the tragic attacks in San Bernardino, we work to help the authorities pursue justice for the victims. And that’s exactly what we did.

This case is about much more than a single phone or a single investigation, so when we received the government’s order we knew we had to speak out. At stake is the data security of hundreds of millions of law-abiding people, and setting a dangerous precedent that threatens everyone’s civil liberties.

As you know, we use encryption to protect our customers — whose data is under siege. We work hard to improve security with every software release because the threats are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated all the time.

Some advocates of the government’s order want us to roll back data protections to iOS 7, which we released in September 2013. Starting with iOS 8, we began encrypting data in a way that not even the iPhone itself can read without the user’s passcode, so if it is lost or stolen, our personal data, conversations, financial and health information are far more secure. We all know that turning back the clock on that progress would be a terrible idea.

Our fellow citizens know it, too. Over the past week I’ve received messages from thousands of people in all 50 states, and the overwhelming majority are writing to voice their strong support. One email was from a 13-year-old app developer who thanked us for standing up for “all future generations.” And a 30-year Army veteran told me, “Like my freedom, I will always consider my privacy as a treasure.”

I’ve also heard from many of you and I am especially grateful for your support.

Many people still have questions about the case and we want to make sure they understand the facts. So today we are posting answers on apple.com/customer-letter/answers/ to provide more information on this issue. I encourage you to read them.

Apple is a uniquely American company. It does not feel right to be on the opposite side of the government in a case centering on the freedoms and liberties that government is meant to protect.

Our country has always been strongest when we come together. We feel the best way forward would be for the government to withdraw its demands under the All Writs Act and, as some in Congress have proposed, form a commission or other panel of experts on intelligence, technology and civil liberties to discuss the implications for law enforcement, national security, privacy and personal freedoms. Apple would gladly participate in such an effort.

People trust Apple to keep their data safe, and that data is an increasingly important part of everyone’s lives. You do an incredible job protecting them with the features we design into our products. Thank you.

Tim

Parallel zum Brief an das Team hat Apple eine öffentliche Seite mit Antworten ins Netz gestellt, die auf die Problematiken rund um den Fall eingeht. Sie bezieht sich auf den offenen Brief von Tim Cook von letzter Woche, der die ganze Sache erst publik gemacht hat. Die Seite in englischer Sprache ist hier verfügbar.

via Appleinsider, Bild von The Climate Group (flickr), bestimmte Rechte vorbehalten