Letter: iPhone information no longer critical to FBI

ISSUE | PRIVACY AND SECURITY

Terrorist's information no longer critical

Under extraordinary circumstances in which imminent danger is involved and the lives of people are immediately at stake, Apple should be required to unlock a terrorist's cellphone ("Apple defies judge's order to unlock terrorist's phone," Thursday). But given the unsavory track record of the federal government, which has invaded and abused the privacy of the American public on countless occasions, I would be reluctant to unlock a cellphone at its request.

Regarding the cellphone of Syed Farook, who with his wife killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif., it seems the federal government is just going on a fishing expedition to gather more information and that there is no evidence that lives are at stake, especially since it has been nearly three months since the attack.

|Kenneth L. Zimmerman, Huntington Beach, Calif., kennethzim@aol.com

Full Supreme Court needed for U.S. v. Apple

The federal government's case against Apple needs to move rapidly up the judicial ladder to the Supreme Court. The concerns on both sides of the issue are complex and fundamental.

The Supreme Court must rule in a way that addresses the underlying constitutional issues head on and sets a clear precedent. Unfortunately, that can't happen until a justice is named and confirmed to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia - all the more reason for Senate Republicans to back off and let the process move forward quickly without political roadblocks.

|Ron Dunbar, Wyncote, admin@dunbar7.name