The company also says it has "already provided the FBI with all the data in our possession" and is "continuing to assist them in any way we can."
Original story:
Apple has told its employees that it will not help the FBI hack into the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters, according to a report from Bloomberg.
The company reportedly sent an email to its staff on Thursday, explaining that it believes creating a master key to bypass the phone's security would be a dangerous precedent. Apple argues that such a key could be used to unlock any iPhone, putting the privacy of millions of users at risk.
"We believe that the government's request is an overreach and would set a dangerous precedent," the email reportedly said. "We feel a deep responsibility to protect our customers' privacy, and we believe that building a backdoor into our products would undermine that trust."
The FBI is seeking a court order to force Apple to help it bypass the security features on the iPhone, which is believed to contain valuable evidence related to the shooting. Apple is so far refusing to comply with the order, saying that it would be a violation of its customers' privacy.
The case is expected to go to court, and it could have significant implications for the future of privacy and security in the digital age.
_This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available._