[syshax]

Yeah, that's how I see it.

Since Apple's software isn't open source, it's possible they're lying. However, if they are, at some point the government is going to try to present evidence they gleaned through this lie, and that fact will leak out.

I think it would be an enormous risk for Apple to blatantly lie about something they put in black and white on their website. So I tend to think they're telling the truth.

Maybe one day, we'll get a real, bonafide, non-niche open source based phone where these things can be audited.

[garwahl]

> However, if they are, at some point the government is going to try to present evidence they gleaned through this lie, and that fact will leak out.

No, they are not. That is the whole point of parallel construction.

[modfodder]

But this isn't just about the FBI. It's about all of law enforcement. Sure, the FBI may be practiced enough to hide the facts of discovery, but will every law enforcement agency in the US be as adept. If Apple is lying, or law enforcement finds a way to circumvent the encryption, it will most likely leak at some point, an leaks are becoming more and more common, especially with highly visible targets like Apple and Google (both blackhats and white hats are itching to show up the tech giants).

[hellbanner]

Why do you assume the fact will leak out? I thought the FBI disclosed they used parallel construction as an MO.

[dragontamer]

DEA. Not FBI. Keep your agencies in check.

Granted, both are under the Attorney General (formerly Eric Holder)... but Holder's recent MO has been to improve race relations between the Police Agencies and the general public. (See his exceptional handling of Ferguson... but his less-than-exceptional handling of "Fast and Furious")

[gnarbarian]

They don't have to present evidence when they can just make their target disappear off to Guantanamo or some eastern European torture camp.