Senators behind encryption bill know how the FBI hacked the iPhone

By Julian Chokkattu Published April 6, 2016

apple iphone found at sea 6s — Marc-André Julien

The FBI may not be willing to share how it successfully cracked the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone with Apple or the general public, but that’s not stopping the agency from disclosing the method to senators in Congress.

And it’s not just any member of Congress — the National Journal reports that Senator Diane Feinstein, D-CA, has been informed of the technique used, and Senator Richard Burr, R-N.C., will be briefed soon. Burr and Feinstein are drafting an encryption bill that will force companies to comply with the government’s demands for access into their services.

Recommended Videos

A draft of the bill is expected in the coming weeks.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Apple wants to learn the technique the FBI used to hack into the iPhone of Syed Farook, a terrorist who took the lives of 14 people in San Bernardino in December of 2015. Apple originally rejected a court order that demanded the company assist the FBI in creating a backdoor into the iPhone. Apple cited privacy and security concerns for its customers.

The FBI learned of the technique by a third-party, which is rumored to be from the Israeli firm Cellebrite. After hacking into the iPhone, the FBI withdrew its case against the Cupertino company a day before the hearing.

Privacy groups have echoed Apple’s sentiments, saying the FBI should disclose the method — but the decision could ultimately fall in the hands of a White House review group.

The FBI has agreed to assist local law enforcement around the country by providing the method to unlock hundreds of iPhones that are part of criminal investigations. However, FBI officials told USA Today that the method hasn’t been used since it unlocked the San Bernardino iPhone.

Topics

Julian Chokkattu

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…

Mobile

Apple’s mysterious iPhone 17 Air is one step closer to becoming a reality

A render of the iPhone Air.

For months, rumors have indicated that Apple plans to remove the iPhone Plus from the 2025 iPhone 17 lineup, and replace it with an entirely new model that might be called the “iPhone 17 Air.” A new report suggests that this phone is now closer to becoming a reality.

According to Digitimes, the new phone has entered the initial stage of manufacturing, known as the new product introduction (NPI) phase. At this stage, Apple and its manufacturing partners finalize a blueprint for creating the phone. It's a significant step in the process.

Mobile

Can this Android phone camera beat the iPhone 16 Pro? I flew to Bali to find out

iPhone 16 Pro next to the OPPO Find X8 Pro on a bed of pebbles

The iPhone 16 Pro has one of the best smartphone cameras you can buy, and it sets a standard for everyone to beat, especially regarding video. We've already seen Samsung and OnePlus try and fail to beat Apple, and the Google Pixel 9 Pro has proven that even it will fall somewhat short.

However, what happens when you look outside the U.S.? Smartphones from Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo have set camera standards that put even the best in the U.S. to shame. I was in Bali last month testing the iPhone 16 Pro camera against a new smartphone from Oppo.

Mobile

This may be our first look at the iPhone 17 Pro’s massive redesign

Back of the iPhone 16 Pro next to the Pixel 9 Pro

The iPhone 17 has been the subject of quite a few leaks so far, but we might have just gotten our first look at its redesign. Spoiler alert: it's a big one. If this design is accurate, then Apple has completely shifted the way it positions cameras on the back of devices by opting for a horizontal side-by-side placement that makes the iPhone 17 look a lot like a Pixel device.

The suggested appearance was first leaked on Weibo, then noticed and shared on X by known tipster Jukanlosreve. The post shows what looks to be a frame, said to be part of the iPhone 17 supply chain. According to the Weibo post, the bar places the ultrawide angle lens in the middle to make room for the "front structured light." We assume this means FaceID. The post has been translated from Chinese to English, so a few details were lost in translation.