Apple may have started working on ways to make its devices harder to hack. According to a report by the New York Times, the company’s engineers have begun developing new security measures that would make it impossible for government agencies to break into locked iPhones. This comes after Apple CEO, Tim Cook wrote letter in which he said that unlocking the iPhone of San Bernardino shooter, Syed Rizwan Farook, would lead to wider ramifications than just solving a case.
If Apple does succeed in upgrading its security, it will create a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies to gain access to iPhones. According to the report, even if the current administration got access to data stored on an iPhone, it would need to find new ways to gain access to a device in the future. This would lead to another cycle of court battles and the only way for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or any other agency to avoid this would be to get the US Congress involved. Benjamin Wittes, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution told the New York Times, “We are in for an arms race unless and until Congress decides to clarify who has what obligations in situations like this.” Google CEO, Sundar Pichai had stated his support for Tim Cook saying that forcing companies to enable hacking could compromise on security. He added that he was looking forward to a thoughtful and open discussion on the issue.