Apple Will No Longer Unlock iOS Devices For Police

Apple said it would not unlock encrypted iPhones and iPads for law enforcement under most circumstances.

“The new measures were announced on the day that Apple rolled out iOS 8, its new mobile operating system. On a new privacy site, Apple outlines the new features, offers tips for users on how to manage their privacy, and explains how Apple will respond to government information requests,” said the Huffington Post.

"On devices running iOS 8, your personal data such as photos, messages (including attachments), email, contacts, call history, iTunes content, notes, and reminders is placed under the protection of your passcode," the company said. "Unlike our competitors, Apple cannot bypass your passcode and therefore cannot access this data. So it's not technically feasible for us to respond to government warrants for the extraction of this data from devices in their possession running iOS 8."

Apple is also touting its record of fighting for user's privacy, claiming that it has never created a "backdoor" for government agencies to access user data. The company also said that it publishes all requests for data that are permitted by law.

KEYWORDS: mobile security