Apple Defies Government Demand for Backdoor to Massive Acclaim

Following the tragic San Bernardino terrorist shooting, the United States government demanded Apple build a backdoor to assist in accessing encrypted information stored on an iPhone used by one of the attackers. In an open letter to customers, Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly disputed the court's order, claiming the unprecedented request would expose customers to greater risk of attack, weaken encryption for all, and “undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect.” The refusal quickly became front page news and helped bolster Apple’s reputation as a defender of encryption and privacy rights, leading to an increase in the company’s stock price on the day of the announcement and a wave of public support. As Buzzfeed observed, “now, more than ever, privacy is Apple’s most important product.”