CDT Files Brief in Support of Apple

The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has filed an amicus brief in support of Apple in its challenge to the FBI order to unlock the cell phone of an attacker in the San Bernardino shootings. CDT’s brief addresses the inappropriate application of the All Writs Act in an attempt by the government to compel Apple to create a new, less secure operating system for the phone. CDT has long opposed government-mandated backdoors in technology, and believes that strong encryption strengthens the security of our nation.

CDT’s brief makes two main arguments:

1. That ordering a private company to defeat its own security measures by creating a new version of its software is an impermissible expansion of the All Writs Act; and
2. That compelling private companies to weaken the security of their products will undermine device security and decrease public trust in connected devices and emerging technologies.

Oral argument in the case has been set for March 22. CDT will continue to follow the case as it evolves, and will aggressively challenge any ruling that would allow the government to compel companies to weaken the security of their products.