https://soundcloud.com/mhsmentoronline/feb-19-editorial-the-fbiapple-encryption-fiasco

This editorial is a compilation from a discussion held by the editorial board.

In our day and age, we are vastly reliant on our personal devices and computers to hold our private information. These devices are protected by all kinds of complex programs but none as complex as encryption. What if anyone could bypass this protection, and what if it was for the greater good?

This brings us to our topic of the dispute between Apple and the FBI over the development of anti-encryption software.

Over the past month, Apple and the FBI have been feuding over whether or not to develop a software that could bypass the encryption on the phone of one of the San Bernardino shooters. The main issue of this all is that if the FBI does gain access to this software, it means that not only would it be susceptible to hackers but it would also mean that the FBI would have access to the information of anyone with an Apple product. At this point, that would mean the privacy risk of millions if not billions of people.

Despite these risks, we have agreed as a majority that the FBI should have access to this software in order to combat the growing threat of terrorism and other threats that face our nation. In the grand scheme of things, if you are doing something on your device that will get you in trouble with the FBI then you should probably stop doing it.

The problem that the editorial board found about our decision is that the whole thing is reminiscent of the Patriot Act passed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The government would indiscriminately have a backdoor into anyone’s phone or computer in the name of combating terrorism. There would be no easy way to prevent corruption from growing if the power is abused and people are brought to “justice” as if it is a modern inquisition.

If Apple does end up making this software, the new presidential elect will have to try their best to not abuse this power and gradually lose the trust of the American people.