New York ruling on Apple phone does not affect San Bernardino case: White House

WASHINGTON:

A ruling by a federal judge that the US government cannot force Apple Inc (AAPL.O) to unlock an iPhone in a New York drug case does not affect the US government's legal action to force Apple to grant access to a phone used by one of the San Bernardino, California, shooters, the White House said on Tuesday.

White House spokesperson Josh Earnest made the remark in a news briefing when asked about Monday's ruling by a US magistrate judge in Brooklyn.

Earlier, Apple said it supports the idea of a panel of experts to consider access to encrypted devices if United States authorities drop legal efforts to force it to help break into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino attackers.

In a statement, Apple reaffirmed its opposition to the US government’s effort to compel it to provide technical assistance to the FBI investigation of the deadly December attacks, but also suggested a compromise in the highly charged court battle.



“We feel the best way forward would be for the government to withdraw its demands… (and) as some in Congress have proposed, form a commission or other panel of experts on intelligence, technology and civil liberties to discuss the implications for law enforcement, national security, privacy and personal freedoms,” the statement said.