Google CEO Supports Apple in Encryption Debate

Google CEO Sundar Pichai says he agrees with Apple CEO Tim Cook’s open letter and that asking tech companies to help decrypt their devices sets a disturbing precedent. A US judge ordered that Apple this week.

Pichai says that he understands that investigative services have a difficult task in protecting the population and that he therefore has no objections to justified data requests to companies. Like Cook, however, he draws a line when companies are asked to cooperate in hacking into their customers’ devices and data. He therefore expressed the wish to be able to have an open discussion on this subject.

On Tuesday, a California judge asked Apple to develop firmware that would allow law enforcement agencies to crack the iPhone belonging to one of the gunmen in the San Bernardino shooting. Apple’s CEO opposed this request, writing in an open letter that it sets a dangerous precedent. After all, with the software, the US government would have a ‘master key’ to penetrate iPhones.

A White House spokesperson said on Wednesday that the justice system is not about a backdoor for all iPhones, but access to this single device. He added that it is central that investigating officers want to find out as much as possible about this case.