Human Rights Watch disputes the framing of Apple's refusal to help unlock the San Bernardino phone
Human Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch, institutional human-rights commentary
Human Rights Watch argues that Apple's resistance concerns users' safety worldwide, while recognizing the importance of investigating the San Bernardino attack.
“Apple’s resistance to helping it hack the San Bernardino shooter’s phone isn’t about privacy for mass murderers, and isn’t about one phone.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Was Apple right to refuse to create software to unlock the San Bernardino iPhone?
Apple opposed creating software to bypass safeguards on a seized San Bernardino iPhone. The government sought to compel its assistance under a court order. The proceeding ended when investigators obtained access without Apple and the order was vacated; the court did not resolve the disputed authority on the merits.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Human Rights Watch commentary on Apple's resistance to the San Bernardino order.
Before the quotation
The article discusses the order directing Apple to create a way around the phone's security.
After the quotation
It argues that governments elsewhere could demand similar capabilities and put users at risk.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Human Rights Watch challenges the portrayal of Apple's resistance as privacy for mass murderers or as limited to one phone. It describes the resistance as concerning every technology user's safety.
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More from this case
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United States Department of Justice
“Apple’s rhetoric is not only false, but also corrosive of the very institutions that are best able to safeguard our liberty and our rights”Read statement
CDT supports Apple's challenge to the unlocking order
Center for Democracy & Technology
“The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has filed an amicus brief in support of Apple in its challenge to the FBI order”Read statement
Microsoft backs Apple and calls for modern privacy laws
Microsoft
“By standing with Apple, we’re standing up for customers who depend on us to keep their most private information safe and secure.”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Human Rights Watch disputes the framing of Apple's refusal to help unlock the San Bernardino phone
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/5548-human-rights-watch-argues-that-apple-s-resistance
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Human Rights Watch disputes the framing of Apple's refusal to help unlock the San Bernardino phone". First published: 2026-10-11. Last updated: 2026-10-11. https://disputeindex.com/events/5548-human-rights-watch-argues-that-apple-s-resistance