Apple refuses to unlock an iPhone for India’s top investigative agency

High security is a feature that everyone values on their devices. We do want our photos and messages protected and away from prying eyes. But, what if an unlocked device could help solve a case by extracting information that could be used as proof?

Apple prides itself on the high security of its devices but when it comes to an ethical standpoint, they seem to be on dodgy footing.

The latest in their we-are-not-going-to-do-this list came when the Cupertino-based company refused to help India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by unlocking Narada News CEO’s iPhone.

The series of sting operations conducted by Narada News in West Bengal on All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) politicians in 2011, exposed the political party’s ‘corrupt’ practices and has since been under the CBI probe. Conducted by Narada’s CEO Matthew Samuel for Tehelka Magazine, the footage was released just days before the 2016 Assembly Elections in the state.

The AITC had claimed that the money that was shown exchanging hands was for ‘donations’ and nothing more. The party went on the win the elections that year, but the investigations went on.

According to the latest reports, Apple refused to share the password of Samuel’s iPhone 4s that was used to record the 28-minute long footage of AITC politicians allegedly accepting bribes. The report states that Apple got in touch with the agency through the ministry of external affairs, to inform them that it was against their policy to share ‘personal details’ of a client and that they are not willing to violate that principle.

The company did confirm, however, that the footage was shot on the iPhone submitted to the agency by Samuel.

Apple’s refusal essentially means that the CBI have no way to match the original footage from Samuel’s phone with the one submitted by him.

The AITC had challenged the authenticity of the Narada tapes when the case came up for hearing at the Calcutta High Court, stating that it could not be ascertained without the original device. The CBI now have Samuel’s iPhone, but with Apple refusing to share the password, they will possibly have to figure out some other way to access the footage on the phone.

This, however, isn’t Apple’s first tussle with security agencies. After a face-off with the FBI over unlocking the San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook’s iPhone and then apparently offering to help unlock the Texas shooter’s phone, the company can’t seem to avoid controversy when it comes to security outfits and how it can and should help fight crime.