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0 pointszer0110y ago0 comments

I agree that it would be upsetting if precedent was made, but I believe it is technically feasible to build a device whose keys are only known by an end user. The FBI is basically asking to go down legitimate update channels to brute force their pass-code, and while that's still a feasible option, of course the FBI is going to ask to use it. Updating the security model of the secure enclave to either destroy keys on flash or disable the flashing mechanism all-together would render the ability outside of even apple's reach, then it goes back down to a question of if you can be compelled to give up your encryption pass-phrase, which I believe precedent has already been set on (please correct me if I'm wrong).

As an aside it bugs me to a fairly large degree that we still attempt to apply very old laws to something they were never designed to address the things we put in front of it. It feels very akin to trying to jam a square peg in a round hole.

Ever play with a wifi pineapple? Ever build one yourself? Congrats! You broke a federal wiretapping statute!

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2511 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2512

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plorg10y ago

The age of the law should not be an indicator of how applicative it is. Consider that the All Writs Act was written at essentially the same time as the fourth ammendment. Similarly, it appears to be written broadly with the very intent that it can be applied in many circumstances.

What has changed in the past 2 centuries is the way the law is interpreted by the courts. And if this case keeps going it will probably be another that defines what the limits of that law.

If there is something you should be concerned about with All Writs it is not its age but its scope. Unless Congress provides a more specific legal framework (which we have seen in a number of other technical cases, for good or, often, ill), it will continue to be decided by judges and justices.

acqq10y ago

> I believe precedent has already been set on (please correct me if I'm wrong).

No, as far as I understand, this now would be a new and dangerous precedent:

Nobody was ever asked to alter their product using All Writs.

That's what's here all about.

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