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by BiteCode_dev 2194 days ago
> This does not seem like an accurate statement. After the PRISM revelations, which named Apple, Apple said they were unaware of the program and were not giving them access. As far as I know, this is the way things still stand today. The leaks claim access to Apple, Apple says they are not providing access. This may be explained through either party lying, or by the FBI being able to access Apple without their cooperation

Of course, gag orders (and PR common sense), prevent them from giving you this information.

But given what we know about the NSA and the context around it, I'm enclined to trust The Guardian and Snowden about it.

> This also seems inaccurate. Apple has never claimed you need to buy a new phone if the home button breaks. The actual issue is that the home button is part of the security system of the phone, runs its own fingerprint detection and is paired with the mainboard, and thus cannot be replaced without updating this pairing, otherwise there would be a trivial security break for the fingerprint protection. As a result, only Apple have the required access to replace the button, and thus third-party replacements are impossible.

No, the failure I'm refering to is of the iPhone 4 home button, which didn't have a fingerprint sensor yet.

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> But given what we know about the NSA and the context around it, I'm enclined to trust The Guardian and Snowden about it.

None of my options suggested above required not trusting them. Either Apple lies about cooperating, the FBI lies about having access, or the FBI has access without Apple's knowledge.

Anyway, their statements on the matter go much further than what a gag order would require.