Facebook, Twitter Back Apple CEO Tim Cook in Security Fight With FBI

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Security

February 18, 2016, 3:55 PM PST

Silicon Valley is flocking to defend Apple, which is in the middle of an important privacy fight against the FBI.

Next up: Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey, who tweeted Thursday that “We stand with @tim_cook and Apple (and thank him for his leadership)!”

Facebook, too, is offering support, saying it would “continue to fight aggressively against requirements for companies to weaken the security of their systems.” Here’s the company’s full public statement:

“We condemn terrorism and have total solidarity with victims of terror. Those who seek to praise, promote, or plan terrorist acts have no place on our services. We also appreciate the difficult and essential work of law enforcement to keep people safe. When we receive lawful requests from these authorities we comply. However, we will continue to fight aggressively against requirements for companies to weaken the security of their systems. These demands would create a chilling precedent and obstruct companies’ efforts to secure their products.”

Cook published a blog post Tuesday opposing a government request (and judge’s ruling) that Apple create a special version of its software to allow FBI officials to access content on an iPhone owned by one of the killers from December’s San Bernardino, Calif., mass shooting.

The government wants access to info on the phone, which is currently locked. Apple thinks that providing that access sends the company and its privacy standards down a slippery slope.

“The FBI may use different words to describe this tool, but make no mistake: Building a version of iOS that bypasses security in this way would undeniably create a back door,” Cook wrote. “And while the government may argue that its use would be limited to this case, there is no way to guarantee such control.

“Customers expect Apple and other technology companies to do everything in our power to protect their personal information, and at Apple we are deeply committed to safeguarding their data,” he continued.

Twitter and Facebook agree, which is not a surprise given they both sit on piles of user data and protecting that data keeps their users happy. The U.S. government has been working with (and feuding with) tech companies over issues of safety and encryption for months now.

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