# Should Apple help the government hack into encrypted devices? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 17, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-apple-help-the-government-hack-into-encrypted-devices/746333 "2016-02-17T13:20:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 49
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-apple-help-the-government-hack-into-encrypted-devices/746333/49 "2016-02-17T16:41:23Z")
[We had a thread about a year and a half ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735633)talking about this potential risk. Now it’s come to fruition as I think it was obvious it would. Here is what I said then: > [@Is the FBI right in decrying the stronger encryption about to come to smartphones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fbi-right-in-decrying-the-stronger-encryption-about-to-come-to-smartphones/699754/135): > > Currently there is no law or ruling that compels providers of electronics to oblige law enforcement. I would be opposed to any such requirement. The government can not be trusted not to abuse such ability. > > Even if there were such a law, there would exist encryption that would be able to thwart it - and then we’re in the same situation. > [@Smapti](#): > > The ability of the FBI to access Syed Farook’s phone does not jeopardize any of your secrets unless the FBI is who you’re trying to keep secrets from. I am trying to keep secrets from the FBI. Why? Because fuck them. And the FBI is included in the “everybody” that I am also keeping secrets from. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-apple-help-the-government-hack-into-encrypted-devices/746333)._