Apple lawyer says helping FBI break into iPhone will lead to more crime

As Apple prepares to move its encryption battle with the Federal Bureau of Investigation from the courts to the halls of Congress, its chief lawyer is arguing that unlocking the iPhone used by a San Bernardino (CA) terrorist will ultimately create more crime than it prevents. Bruce Sewell, Apple’s general counsel, will warn legislators on the House Judiciary Committee that the Feb 16 court order on Apple to help the FBI break into the iPhone will create a digital vulnerability that jeopardises another US government imperative: cybersecurity.

“Hackers and cyber criminals could use this to wreak havoc on our privacy and personal safety,” Sewell will tell the House panel at a hotly anticipated hearing on March 1, according to prepared remarks the company has released. “Some of you might have an iPhone in your pocket right now, and if you think about it, there’s probably more information stored on that iPhone than a thief could steal by breaking into your house,” Sewell will testify. Sewell’s testimony will follow that of James Comey, the director of the FBI who has since 2014 publicly warned that thorough mobile encryption will jeopardise law enforcement.