Apple Explains 'GovtOS' In New Court Filing

Apple Inc. AAPL has filed an official reply to the FBI's demand that the Cupertino-based company make a version of its iPhone operating system to help the agency access the iPhone of San Bernardino terrorism suspect Syed Farook.

Apple filed a motion to vacate the order, which said it would be forced to make a new "GovtOS" for FBI. Apple slamed FBI's request as an unprecedented expansion of government power that would endanger the privacy of Apple users.

"The order requested by the government would impose an unprecedented and oppressive burden on apple and citizens who use the iPhone," Apple said in the filing. The company said it would effectively a "back door" to the iPhone, one that Apple believes is too dangerous to build.

Related Link: Majority Of Americans Think Apple Should Unlock iPhone For FBI

Specifically, the government would force Apple to create new software with functions to remove security features and add a new capability to the operating system to attack iPhone encryption, allowing a passcode to be input electronically.

Apple responded, "This would make it easier to unlock the iPhone by 'brute force,' trying thousands or millions of passcode combinations with the speed of a modern computer. In short, the government wants to compel Apple to create a crippled and insecure product. Once the process is created, it provides an avenue for criminals and foreign agents to access millions of iPhones."

Apple argued that the All Writs Act, first enacted in 1789 and on which the government bases its entire case, does not provide a basis to conscript Apple to create software enabling the government to hack into iPhones.

Moreover, Apple said the "compromised operating system" that the government demands would require significant resources and effort to develop.

The public opinion is divided on this issue. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, 51 percent of respondents said Apple should cooperate with the FBI, unlocking the iPhone in question, while only 38 percent said it shouldn't.

However, tech giants such as Microsoft Corporation MSFT, Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL, Facebook Inc FB and Twitter Inc TWTR are said to be supporting Apple in this case.