“Helped them”: trump accused Apple of treason

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Apple after refusing to help the FBI unlock two iPhones used by a Saudi shooter who shot three people at a Pensacola naval base last December.

On Twitter, the American leader pointed out rather sharply that he “always helped” the company, so it should also help its country.

“We are constantly helping Apple in the economy and other areas, and they refuse to unlock phones that are used by killers, drug dealers and other criminal elements. They need to take responsibility and help our wonderful country now! Let’s make America great again, ”President Trump wrote.

On the eve of the US Attorney General William Barr said that Apple did not provide “sufficient assistance” when she was asked to unlock two iPhone, involved in the case of shooting at Pensacola. Apple, in turn, claims that it is actively cooperating with the FBI, but cannot unlock the iPhone – there are no backdoors in the architecture of the gadgets, that is, the program’s defects deliberately laid down by the developer that allow remote control.

“We do not agree that Apple did not provide substantial assistance in the investigation of the case in Pensacola … We have always said that there is no such thing as a backdoor only for good guys. Backdoors can also be used by those who threaten our national security and the security of our customers’ data. Today, law enforcement agencies have access to large amounts of data, so Americans do not have to choose between weakening encryption and disclosing cases. We believe that encryption is vital to protect our country and the data of our users, ”the press service of Apple said.

Nevertheless, President Trump decided that Apple was not going to meet the authorities on purpose, so he hastened to remind the company that he had previously given it all sorts of preferences. It is, first of all, about additional taxes on goods imported from China – they were introduced by the American leader due to the trade war between the USA and China. Since almost all Apple production is located in China, imported iPhone, iPad and other gadgets could be subject to new duties, which would increase their cost. However, in December last year, Trump postponed the introduction of a 15% tax, thereby helping the company.

In addition, a warm relationship has developed between Donald Trump and Apple CEO Tim Cook, on which the head of state likes to concentrate on the press.

In August last year, the US president revealed the secret of friendship with Cook – as it turned out, he periodically calls up with the American leader.

“Therefore he [Тим Кук] – an excellent director. Because he calls me and others do not. Others hire very expensive consultants, and Tim Cook calls Donald Trump himself. This is very good, ”the head of state emphasized.

Trump added that he would love to talk with other leaders from Silicon Valley, but only the head of Apple calls him.

“When he has a problem, he calls me,” said Donald Trump.

He also mentioned a conversation with Apple CEO regarding customs duties on imported Chinese goods. Then Tim Cook pointed out to the president that when the new tax is introduced, the electronics manufacturer Samsung will gain an advantage over Apple, as its headquarters are located in South Korea, with which the United States has a trade agreement.

“I will help him [Куку] with this problem in the short term. Because it [Apple] – a great American company, ”said the American leader.

As it turned out, such support from the head of state is not free, and now Trump demands from Cook to help the country in return by creating backdoors for special services so that they can read the correspondence of criminals and suspects.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union [American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU] He supported Apple and its decision to abandon backdoors.

“The government’s demand is dangerous and unconstitutional, and could also weaken the security of millions of iPhones.

Strong encryption allows religious minorities facing genocide, such as Uighurs in China, and journalists digging under drug cartels in Mexico to communicate securely with each other, knowledgeable sources and the outside world.

Apple or any other company simply does not have the opportunity to provide the FBI with access to encrypted messages without providing them to authoritarian foreign governments and without weakening our protection from criminals and hackers, ”said ACLU Oversight and Cybersecurity Advisor Jennifer Granick.

At the time of publication, Apple’s notes did not respond to Donald Trump’s critical tweet.