Apple said Wednesday night that it is making it impossible for the company to turn over data from most iPhones or iPads to police — even when they have a search warrant — taking a hard new line as tech companies attempt to blunt allegations that they have too readily participated in government efforts to collect user information.
The move, announced with the publication of a new privacy policy tied to the release of Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 8, amounts to an engineering solution to a legal quandary: Rather than comply with binding court orders, Apple has reworked its latest encryption in a way that prevents the company — or anyone but the device's owner — from gaining access to the vast troves of user data typically stored on smartphones or tablet computers.
Continued : http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/2014/09/17/2612af58-3ed2-11e4-b03f-de718edeb92f_story.html
Related:
With iOS 8, Apple won't be able to unlock phones for the police
Despite Apple's Privacy Pledge, Cops Can Still Pull Data Off a Locked iPhone
Apple expands data encryption under iOS 8, making handover to cops moot
Also see:
Newest Androids will join iPhones in offering default encryption, blocking police
Google to turn on encryption by default in next Android version

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