The FBI has been accused by the ACLU in regards to the gamble that they took with cyber security since they did not disclose, to the company, the method that they used in order to gain access to the iPhone of the San Bernardino shooter. ACLU‘s principal technologist Chris Soghoian stated that the investigative agency is faced with the million dollar question. It is yet to be understood if their surveillance needs is the only priority for the FBI or even cyber security is also one of their priority. He also went on to say that the longer the security flaw is kept away by the FBI, the more they are gambling with the fact that the flaw will not be discovered by any other entity.
An official who was formerly with the FBI stated that the decision of whether they should reveal the information or not on the method that they used purely depends on how many iPhones they were able to unlock, is purely in the hands of the agency. FBI’s former senior official, Robert Anderson, who is now presently with the Navigant Consulting Inc. Stated that the agency would not want to jeopardize the privacy and safety of millions of people and will eventually disclose the method that they used to the company. He also added on to say that the attempt that is being made by the government in balancing the various risks of disclosing or hiding the vulnerabilities of the security is also a reason for them to be quite.
Cellebrite, the Israeli Company helped to unlock the iPhone for the FBI which had been in the news earlier. As of right now the FBI as well as the Cellebrite have not yet made any comment regarding what was done. It is also believed that the investigative agency is said to be working on an Arkansas homicide case wherein they are presently unlocking an iPhone that is supposed to help them with that particular case.
