Once they set precedent to get Apple to provide them with the software they need, why do you think they won't later compel Apple to provide them with the keys to let them unlock any phone?
Surely it's going to become a burden if the government has to go through Apple for every single unlock request - there may be thousands of them, so for convenience, why wouldn't they demand the software to do it themselves?
It seems like gaining access to this dead guy's phone is not really what the FBI is after - they can already get his call records and SMS's from the carriers, there's not likely to be any actionable information left on the phone.
Yes, this sets the precedent that the govt may request, with a valid court order, to compel Apple to help grab information from a specific phone.
The point I'm trying to make (repeatedly through this thread, which everyone seems to ignore) is that this is a pretty reasonable request.
Notice that it becoming a burden for the govt to request this through Apple every time is in no way a reason why the govt would legally be allowed to "demand the software to do it themselves". In fact, as every single case would require a court order, the hassle of the court order is likely a magnitude greater than asking Apple to comply.
For the govt to "demand the software to do it themselves" would be an entirely new court case. In fact, it is this very case that I do not want to see.
To not think this is where it is headed is naive. Just like the original claim of only one phone was laughable. The FBI wants to get a precedence now so that they can prevent Apple from ever making a phone that cannot be broken into. That is what this case is about and has always been about since the beginning. It is also why Apple took a stand here.
Surely it's going to become a burden if the government has to go through Apple for every single unlock request - there may be thousands of them, so for convenience, why wouldn't they demand the software to do it themselves?
It seems like gaining access to this dead guy's phone is not really what the FBI is after - they can already get his call records and SMS's from the carriers, there's not likely to be any actionable information left on the phone.