Verizon CEO and Chairman Lowell McAdam yesterday released a statement siding with Apple in the Apple vs. FBI case over whether the FBI can force Apple to help it break into the encrypted data on an iPhone.
“Verizon is committed to protecting customer privacy and one of the tools for protecting that privacy is encryption. We support the availability of strong encryption with no back doors. The case with Apple presents unique issues that should be addressed by Congress, not on an ad hoc basis.”
Although the case ostensibly involves just one terrorist’s phone, Apple CEO Tim Cook has been joined by many industry leaders in decrying the precedent the case would set, which could easily lead to weak or bypassed encryption in all phones, allowing all governments — and criminals — access to private data on phones.
While Apple challenges the FBI in court — and has said it is prepared to take the case to the Supreme Court — Congress will hold hearings on the issue next week, with both Apple and the FBI scheduled to testify.
