Tech Companies to Unite in Support of Apple -- Update

By Deepa Seetharaman and Jack Nicas

Several tech companies, including Google parent Alphabet Inc., Facebook Inc. and Microsoft Corp., plan to file a joint motion supporting Apple Inc. in its court fight against the Justice Department over unlocking an alleged terrorist's iPhone, according to people familiar with the companies' plans.

At least one other tech company plans to be included in a joint amicus brief next week generally supporting Apple's position that unlocking the iPhone would undermine tech firms' efforts to protect their users' digital security, these people said. Twitter Inc. also plans to support Apple in a motion, though it is unclear if it will join the combined filing, another person familiar said.

Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith told Congress on Thursday that his company would file a motion supporting Apple.

The joint filing is set to unite much of Silicon Valley firmly behind Apple in its fight against the U.S. that has polarized much of the nation in a debate over supporting national security versus protecting personal privacy. Tech executives so far have generally supported Apple publicly, though many have declined to weigh in while statements by others have been tepid.

Apple on Thursday filed a motion opposing a federal judge's order to help the Federal Bureau of Investigation unlock a phone used by a suspect in the San Bernardino, Calif., shootings. In the filing, Apple called the order "unprecedented" with "no support of the law." Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said last week in a letter that the order would "undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect."

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said last week on Twitter that while Google provides user data to law enforcement under court orders, "that's wholly different than requiring companies to enable hacking of customer devices and data. Could be a troubling precedent."

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Monday he was "sympathetic" to Apple's argument and that he didn't "think requiring back doors into encryption is either going to be an effective way to increase security or is really the right thing to do."

--Yoree Koh contributed to this article.

Write to Deepa Seetharaman at Deepa.Seetharaman@wsj.com and Jack Nicas at jack.nicas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 25, 2016 17:22 ET (22:22 GMT)

Twitter (NYSE:TWTR)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Août 2024 à Sept 2024