Re:Answers to your questions about Apple and security
by zmmmmm on Monday February 22, 2016 @09:48PM
(#11156120)
> Can a court force a company or an individual to create something that does not exist?
This is the most interesting part of the question here. They aren't forcing Apple to give up something they have, or divulge information they already know. They're basically commandeering the services a private company for the purpose of the state. It makes me wonder where it would end - could the judge - judging it useful to help a court case, just pull a citizen off the street and tell them to go and get him / her a coffee? Is there any limit to what they can ask a private citizen to do, once they decide it is in some way useful for solving a crime? Could they even demand someone commit a crime and then prosecute them for the crime?
This is the most interesting part of the question here. They aren't forcing Apple to give up something they have, or divulge information they already know. They're basically commandeering the services a private company for the purpose of the state. It makes me wonder where it would end - could the judge - judging it useful to help a court case, just pull a citizen off the street and tell them to go and get him / her a coffee? Is there any limit to what they can ask a private citizen to do, once they decide it is in some way useful for solving a crime? Could they even demand someone commit a crime and then prosecute them for the crime?