Building A "Backdoor" To The I-phone -An Ethical Dilemma

ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

1. What Are The Various Kinds Of Executive Management Decisions? Where Do

Ethical Dilemmas Arise?

ANS: Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, faced the predicament of protecting the privacy of
customer data and sharing customer data with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
to protect our country's security. This situation occurred on December 2, 2015, when
Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 29, killed 14 employees at the
Inland Centre in San Bernardino, California. Did. An additional 22 people were injured.
Employees gathered in the company meeting room for a Christmas party. Saeed, who was
also an employee of the Inland Regional Centre, attended the party but left early. He later
returned with Tashfine and shot the staff. Syed and Tashfeen used five firearms during
the attack. Syed and Tashfeen have been established to be associated with terrorist
organizations. Some of the guns used by the couple were purchased from his neighbour
Enrique Marquez Jr. (Enrique subsequently pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the
murder and was convicted on August 21, 2017. receive). Both Syed and Tashfeen died in
their cars in a subsequent shootout with police. The killing was the worst terrorist attack
since 9/11. The FBI investigated the murder case. It was discovered that Syed and
Tashfeen had a pipe bomb to cause further turmoil. A large-scale attack was also planned
based on the evaluation of digital devices in the couple's house. Were there any warning
signs that the San Bernardino massacre would occur? Tashfeen had sent private direct
messages in 2012 and 2014 via Facebook pledging her allegiance to an Islamic terrorist
organization. Other digital evidence at the home, including email accounts, computer and
smartphones were either erased or smashed. The FBI did find an iPhone in the couple`s
vehicle and this iPhone is at the centre of this ethical dilemma. The iPhone recovered
belonged to Syed and was issued to him by his employer. The FBI wanted to conduct a
search of any communication on the phone as part of their investigation. However, the
phone was password protected. If the FBI fails to unlock the phone after several attempts,
all data stored on the phone will be erased. The FBI asked Apple to help access the data.
Specifically, the FBI wanted Apple to develop software to decrypt the iPhone. This is the
"backdoor" that allows the FBI to retrieve data for this investigation and future cases.
This software disables the security feature of wiping data after 10 failed attempts. Tim
Cook defied the FBI`s request. His reasons were:
• The government wanted Apple to create something that did not exist.
• The software that Apple would be required to create could fall into the wrong hands and
be used to unlock anyone`s iPhone.
• Building a backdoor would effectively make encryption a useless tool for protecting
data.
• Apple would be ultimately hacking into its own users and reversing any security
measures it had created. With this as the backdrop, Tim Cook felt compelled to protect
his Apple brand as there was the potential to lose a substantial part of his customer base if
he acquiesced to the FBI`s demands. Apple firmly believed its customers were concerned
with the security and privacy of their information stored on the iPhone. However, if Tim
Cook agreed to the government`s request and built the software, Apple would be assisting
in the fight against terrorists. The software would enable the FBI to:
• Combat terrorism and aid in preventing future attacks.
• Assist in investigations by obtaining data in a speedy manner.
• Prevent criminals from using mobile phones to communicate or store data. In this
situation, you can claim that a secure phone will save your life. They can also argue that
how to endanger the phone can save lives in the future. In the end, Tim Cook felt it was
best to keep the iPhone as secure as possible.

2. What Dilemmas Did Tim Cook Face?

ANS: Tim Cook's primary responsibility was to act in the best interests of Apple's loyal
customers. Today, mobile phones are rarely used to make phone calls. Rather, mobile
phones are a storage place for personal information. Whether it's texting, emailing,
creating videos, accessing apps, storing photos, mobile phones are a personal window to
our lives. Apple recognized this and began encrypting data on mobile phones. Apple`s
encryption feature was so stringent, even its own engineers could not extract data from
phones or tablets. Privacy was a paramount issue with Apple. Privacy was also a deeply
personal issue with Tim Cook. After becoming CEO in 2011, it wasn`t until 2014 that
Tim Cook revealed to the world that he was gay. Tim Cook also had a responsibility to
the technology community to stand his ground. When Apple develops software, other
technology companies such as Google, Yahoo, Samsung, and Microsoft are expected to
comply with government agencies and create backdoors. It will set a precedent for the
industry as a whole, not only in the United States but in other countries as well. Another
big concern for Apple was the possibility that backdoor software could fall into the hands
of hackers, criminals, terrorists, and volatile governments. If this happens, the security of
iPhone data will be severely compromised and backdoor software will assist terrorists
designed for long-term capture. After all, Tim was obliged to Apple and its brand
shareholders. The iPhone represented two third of Apple`s revenue in 2016 and if Apple
were to compromise the security of its own phones, it is possible those users would
switch to another brand. Apple had already suffered an embarrassing breach of its iCloud
when hundreds of nude photos of celebrities were leaked over the internet in August
2014. Also, this was on the heels of Edward Snowden, a former Central Intelligence
Agency employee, revealing that the U.S. government had conducted surveillance on
persons without their knowledge by accessing emails, photos, videos, and phone calls in
the effort to combat terrorism. overall, there was a public backlash when U.S. citizens
learned the most intimate parts of their lives were being tracked by the government. The
backlash included Apple as users questioned the ability of the company to protect their
information.

3. What Were Cook’s Primary Responsibilities, Which Would Have Influenced His
Decision To Refuse To Succumb To U.S. Government Pressure To Build A
Backdoor To The I-phone? Examine The Contradiction In These
Responsibilities, If Any.

ANS: Tim Cook says he fears that creating software will create a master key that anyone
can use to decrypt iPhones. He fears it will end up helping terrorists like Syed and
Tashfeen. But he helps Syed and Tashfeen without creating a backdoor. If the FBI had
been able to unlock the phone, it might have found a clue to the San Bernardino murders.
By not building the software, Apple has a convenient way to avoid FBI requests like this
in the future. Another concern is that Apple has allowed other terrorists to use the iPhone
in the future. Terrorists will use iPhones because data is sensitive and undecipherable.
While Tim Cook preaches making the world a safer place without loopholes, he's actually
encouraging terrorists to use his products. Apple also sells iPhones. Each new iPhone
model has improvements that encourage customers to buy a phone. Encryption is an
important customer-requested improvement, but Apple has also used this feature to its
advantage. Prior to iOS 8, Apple was subjected to numerous national security scrutiny.
With the introduction of iOS 8, Apple not only encrypted all personal information, but
also stripped engineers of access to data. By not giving engineers access, Apple provided
a way to not provide information to law enforcement even with a warrant. Finally, Tim
Cook is responsible for the victims of the San Bernardino murders. These people were his
customers because they were employees of the internal regional centre. The internal
regional centre had an Apple business account and issued an iPhone to Syed. It seems
hypocritical to ignore Tim Cook's responsibility for those killed, especially since the
internal regional centre was on Apple accounts. It can be assumed that Tim Cook thought
more about the company than he lost about 14 lives.

4. Assess The Ways In Which Tim Cook May Have Resolved These Dilemmas.

ANS: According to Badaracco, there are four questions that must be answered before the
dilemma.
1. Which course of action will bring the greatest benefit and the least harm?
2. Which alternative best meets the rights of others, including those of shareholders?
three.
3.What plans can you follow that align with your core values and promises?
4. What actions are possible in the world as it is?
Taking a pragmatic approach, I believe Tim Cook's answer is the most informative and
the least damaging. While failing to meet government demands has helped Apple the
most, the FBI has certainly suffered. Societal impacts need to be considered in the short
and long term. In the short term, the lack of a backdoor had a negative impact on
litigation against snipers. The FBI may have recovered information that would aid in the
investigation and reassure the victim's family. In the long run, backdoors can help the FBI
in future investigations and prevent future terrorist attacks. But the damage done to the
FBI outweighs the benefits of non-compliance. Tim Cook's response has been of the
greatest benefit to the Apple brand and its shareholders. Apple was able to avoid the cost
and time required to create a backdoor. They were able to reassure customers that privacy
is important to them when choosing an iPhone. They avoided breaking the law because
there was no specific law on the subject. Tim's decision will be more difficult if
Washington, D.C. lawmakers pass a law banning tech companies from providing
encrypted data. In 2010, the Obama administration drafted a bill to do that, but the bill
was not passed after Edward Snowden's revelations. Similar laws were passed in the
Clinton administration, requiring phone companies to set up digital networks that
government agents could connect to. It may have been used in criminal activities beyond
the wrong hands. The creation of the software will also lead to future requests from the
FBI and other government agencies, leading to Apple's billing stagnation. According to
the article, in the first six months of 2015, Apple received between 750 and 999 national
security inquiries from the US government. It's safe to say that this number will increase
once Apple finds a way to create a backdoor. The only downside to Apple is that public
opinion values security over privacy and customers are against Apple. Shortly after the
murder, public opinion sided with the FBI. Because most Americans favoured the FBI's
access to iPhones. In a February 2016 PEW Research Centre survey, 51% of respondents
surveyed believe that Apple should comply with the FBI's backdoor request, while 38%
of Apple should not unlock their phones. If Tim Cook goes to jail for his position with the
FBI, Apple's commitment to customer privacy will be put to the test. The team decided to
 fight the FBI with no impact on themselves or the company. Also, no fines or other
penalties were imposed. No penalties or fines were imposed on management, so the
company and its shareholders were able to avoid any negative impact. Tim Cook did what
was best for Silicon Valley, not just Apple. Several tech company executives supported
Tim Cook in the fight against the FBI. Sundar Google CEO Pinchai said: “Forcing a
company to hack can compromise user privacy. We create security products to help keep
your information safe and allow law enforcement to access your data in accordance with
lawful guidelines. But this is completely different from asking companies to allow
hacking on their devices and customer data.” Meanwhile, the people of Washington, D.C.
have, of course, sided with the FBI in this conflict. Donald Trump made the following
remarks in his South Carolina presidential election: “Above all, Apple must ensure the
security of this phone. I think we should boycott Apple until they release this security
code." Ultimately, Tim Cook stayed true to his principles. The San Bernardino murders
occurred on December 2, 2015, but in 2010 Cook told Apple that privacy is important.
That year, he said, "The company has always had a very different concept of privacy from
other colleagues in the Valley." By the end of 2013, Apple had encrypted all third-party
data stored on customer phones by default. Under Tim Cook's predecessor, Steve Jobs,
Apple was known for innovation and cutting-edge gadgets. That focus changed in 2011
when Tim Cook became CEO. Under Tim's leadership, customer privacy has become a
top priority for Apple. Apple will continue to develop operating systems that are
increasingly "backdoor-resistant". "Any attempt to introduce a backdoor will only
intensify the arms race," said Jonathan Mayer, a computer scientist and lawyer at Stanford
University. "Useful and secure software will keep the government one step ahead."

5. What Should Cook Have Done?

ANS: Given the circumstances at the time, Apple's response was correct. In the absence of
federal backdoor laws, Tim Cook made the smartest decision for the company. Apple is Tim
Cook's most important responsibility as CEO and the most prominent spokesperson for the
company. Complying with the FBI's request could only cause financial harm to his company
because: b) the possibility of customer loss due to an iPhone security breach; c) Data
breaches and litigation if backdoors fall into the hands of hackers. Also, the government will
not reimburse Apple for any financial losses as a result of the backdoor. For the long-term
health of the company, its employees and investors, Tim has made the right choice.

SUBMITTED BY :-
Mansi Mangla 20mba009
Deeksha Arora 20mba027
Sameer yadav 20mba016