FBI cannot share secret method on accessing encrypted iPhone; Third party owns unlocking mechanism

After a lengthy battle, the FBI released a statement on Tuesday saying it won't share the iPhone unlocking mechanism it used in unlocking the San Bernardino shooter's device. While FBI has coordinated with a contractor to open the encrypted iPhone, it argued that the agency doesn't own the mechanism.

According to a source from Reuters, the FBI is expected to formally write to the White House on their reason why the agency cannot share the secret unlocking method with the government, Apple and any other third parties. Several US government sources said the FBI contractor that unlocked the shooter's phone was a foreign individual and cannot give the U.S. authorities any details regarding the mechanism. Per se, the FBI couldn't share it even if it wanted to.

Yahoo published that the unnamed contractor had sole ownership of the mechanism and that the government is not allowed to share it. It was the first time that the government had alerted Apple of the vulnerability under a White House interagency procedure known as the Vulnerabilities Equities Process. It is for reviewing process regarding technological security flaws and deciding which should be made public.

Daily Mail wrote that the FBI provisional decision also indicates that the iPhone of the shooter won't be subject for review. Earlier on Tuesday, FBI director James Comey cleared that he's assessing if the mechanism would go through the review. Comey also stressed that FBI does not own the method to crack the encryption on the phone of Syed Farook who opened fire and killed 14 people. 

Apple's refusal to comply with FBI's request fueled a controversial debate over security, privacy and law enforcement access to encrypted technology.

The agency later withdrew its case after the aforementioned hacking method worked. Comey confirmed the method works on a "narrow slice" of iPhone 5c devices running iOS 9.

Tags

FBI, Apple, encryption, Third Party, Hacking Security Flaw, Vulnerabilities Equities Process, James Comey, Syed Farook, iPhone 5c, unlocking iPhone

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