Mozilla sides with Apple against FBI -- proposes basic principles for government surveillance

[Batu69]

The ongoing dispute between the FBI and Apple is absolutely chilling. It shakes me to my core to think our government wants to force a company to write code under the guise of anti-terrorism. Quite frankly, the oft-argued opinion that supporting Apple in this regard is anti-American is not only wrong, but insulting. My soul still aches from 9/11, and I love America, but I also support Tim Cook and the company's fight to protect our civil liberties.

 

But forget my opinion -- major tech companies, such as Google and Microsoft, are standing up and pledging support for their competitor, Apple. Now, open source darling, Mozilla, is voicing its support too. Taking it a step further, however, the Firefox-maker is also proposing basic principles for government surveillance -- sort of like a bill of rights for encryption and surveillance.

 

"Security is paramount to a trusted Internet. Encryption is a critical part of how that trust is made real. The recent events around Apple and the FBI set a dangerous precedent. Our position on these issues is simple: the FBI should not be able to require a technology company to create code that “undoes” years of security enhancements by creating additional vulnerabilities", says Mozilla.

 

The Firefox-maker further says, "even when legitimate, government surveillance can cause massive harm to user security and the Internet. Governments don’t always take this harm into account when conducting their surveillance activities. The Apple case is just the latest example. We propose that governments adopt basic principles that guide the scope of their surveillance activities, balancing their legitimate needs with the broader good".

 

Mozilla shares three tenets.

1. User Security: Governments need to strengthen user security, including the best encryption, not weaken it.
2. Minimal Impact: Government surveillance should minimize impact on user trust and security.
3. Accountability: Surveillance activities need empowered, independent, and transparent oversight.

Wow, proposing that a government have its citizens' best interests at heart? What a novel concept! How sad is it that such common sense principles must be proposed? Sigh. Mozilla's proposal is fine, although a bit simplistic.

 

Look, I don't think that the FBI is necessarily being intentionally evil -- it is likely just ignorance about the underlying technologies. The bureau probably believes that keeping us safe from terrorism is paramount, and while that is important, it shouldn't come at the expense of our civil liberties.

 

What do you think of Mozilla's three-point proposal? Tell me in the comments. If you do like what Mozilla is saying, you are encouraged to tweet with the hashtag #IstandwithMozilla.

 

Article source

[steven36]

Who cares  they already have big money  writing  letters to the courts

Quote

Apple's tech rivals closed ranks, with Microsoft and Google announcing they would file briefs in court supporting the iPhone maker. Facebook meanwhile endorsed a collective letter supporting Apple.

 

And most likely the court is  not going too listen too big money
 

Quote

 

The Justice Department said Apple's public statements suggest it is basing its defense on "marketing concerns" and that the company was not being asked to hand over any sensitive software that could be used by hackers.

 

Earlier Thursday, FBI Director James Comey reiterated his position at a hearing on Capitol Hill.

 

"The San Bernardino litigation is not about us trying to send a message or establish some kind of precedent," Comey told lawmakers at the House Intelligence Committee.

"It's about trying to be competent in investigating something that is an active investigation."

 

The phone at the center of the standoff belonged to Syed Farook, a US citizen, who carried out the attack on an office party in San Bernardino along with his Pakistani wife Tashfeen Malik. The attack left 14 dead.

 

Lawmakers eye 'solution'

Separately, US lawmakers moved to break the deadlock that has divided the public by calling a hearing with the FBI and Apple in an effort to craft "a solution."

 

The hearing called by the House Judiciary Committee for next Tuesday will be the first in Congress since Apple said it would challenge the court order.

 

A statement said scheduled witnesses include FBI chief Comey and Bruce Sewell, Apple's senior vice president and general counsel.

 

Also scheduled to appear are Susan Landau, a cybersecurity expert at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Cyrus Vance Jr., the New York district attorney who has criticized Apple for locking its iPhones without allowing law enforcement access.

http://www.securityweek.com/apple-asks-block-court-order-help-decrypt-iphone

 

In order for Apple to ever win they have get the whole nation  to side with them like SOPA was shot down .

But because its a terrorist cell phone and people died it makes it a serious issue ,so most everyday people are not going stand up for apple so over half the nation is with the FBI  on this . Most real patriotic people would never  side with a company that hold in data about terrorism.

[Holmes]

I said the same sh*t about windows ten and data collection saying Im tired of hearing about this remember what you said.  Now you say you dont want to hear anything else about the apple story I do I find this article very interesting.  Something different for a change.  I dont think apple should create the software and I think the government should get access to the phone whats the solution to this impasse?  What should apple do.

[steven36]

2 hours ago, Holmes said:

I said the same sh*t about windows ten and data collection saying Im tired of hearing about this remember what you said.  Now you say you dont want to hear anything else about the apple story I do I find this article very interesting.  Something different for a change.  I dont think apple should create the software and I think the government should get access to the phone whats the solution to this impasse?  What should apple do.

I'm not taking sides on this,  its not my fight  ,  There's a lot of things i want or dont want .  I came to accept that me alone cant change fate.. its like O.J. when  he was accused of killing his x wife and her boyfriend he paid all  that money to get out of it,  witch he did . But law enforcement sit around and waited tell he messed up and he ended up in jail anyways. I had a buddy who went to prison they had been watching him for years for one thing , they gave him 3 years as soon he missed up for something else.

 

If Tim Cook wins the FBI will watch him like a hawk  and he will most likely be back in court in bad trouble  ..There famous for getting people back.  You never really win stirring up stuff with law enforcement in the long run.

 

And Microsoft has there day in court coming  to give the FBI  access to there encrypted email service overseas .. Apple and Windows 10 is the lest of my worries in reality because i dont use windows 10 or do i even use MAC OSX are have a smart phone. I never bought nothing made by apple in my life

 

This kind of stuff will be in the courts for years to come so why  should we dwell on it?

[Holmes]

Its like you said in a different post both sides of the story need to be told same with this.  You love to dwell on how windows ten collects data why should you dwell on that.  In all honesty its good to hear about something else for a change.

[steven36]

11 minutes ago, Holmes said:

Its like you said in a different post both sides of the story need to be told same with this.  You love to dwell on how windows ten collects data why should you dwell on that.

The reason I talk about it because people need to be warned of it it can be prevented .and I  use windows sometimes and was really looking forward to Windows 10 tell i seen them make a zillion products to block its spying . I dont dwell on it  I just dont use it.  But  something  that's got to with the courts  that will be the judges decision not mine  there's no way i can help no one in the Apple case ,