By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
If Apple was hoping to find a supporter among the Republican presidential candidates, the company was disappointed after Thursday evening’s GOP debate.
Despite plenty of disagreement over immigration, the budget and foreign policy, the five candidates agreed on one thing: Apple should help the FBI unlock the iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters.
“They are not asking Apple to create a backdoor to encryption,” Marco Rubio said, adding that “Apple doesn’t want to do it, because they think it hurts their brand.”
Sen. Ted Cruz said the issue was not about invading the privacy of all phone users.
“The order is not: put a backdoor in everyone’s cell phone. If that was the order, that order would be problematic, because it would compromise security and safety for everyone,” Cruz said. “But on the question of unlocking this cell phone of a terrorist, we should enforce the court order.”
John Kasich argued that President Obama should meet personally with Apple to urge the company to comply with the Justice Department’s request to open the phone.
“Lock the door, and say you’re not coming out until you reach an agreement that gives the security people what they need and protects the rights of Americans.”
Donald Trump was the only candidate who wasn’t asked about Apple, but on Twitter, he said, “Boycott Apple products until such time as Apple gives cellphone info to authorities regarding radical Islamic terrorist couple from Cal.”
