Protecting Personal Information: The Ethical Dilemma and Apple vs FBI

This essay explores the complex ethical and legal challenges associated with protecting personal information, particularly in the digital age. It examines the importance of safeguarding sensitive data for individuals, businesses, and governmental agencies, highlighting the potential consequences of data breaches and unauthorized access. The essay uses the Apple vs FBI controversy as a case study to analyze the tension between privacy rights and national security concerns. It discusses the ethical dilemmas faced by both Apple, in its commitment to customer privacy through encryption, and the FBI, in its pursuit of information to protect citizens. The conclusion emphasizes the ongoing confusion surrounding data security and access by security agencies, suggesting that a universally accepted consensus on this matter is unlikely due to the inherent complexities and conflicting interests involved. References to relevant sources are also provided.

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Protecting Personal Information and the Existing Dilemma
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Protecting Personal Information
Personal Information is sensitive information that needs to be protected by individuals for whom the
information is crucial so that they are protected from unwanted access to others. A set of information is
sensitive to individuals, business entities, or any federal agencies if unwanted access by means of theft,
bugging, and other means affects the victim’s purpose of storing or retaining the information. Consider
yourself as an entrepreneur of a business organization to understand the importance of protecting
personal information. Business information such as clients’ contact, employee database, stakeholders
information, marketing research information, strategic information etc are crucial to your business and
must be closely guarded against rival intruders so as to keep your business moving in the right direction.
For federal agencies information are more sensitive as they remain in the radar of their counterparts
and any theft may endanger security of the entire nation. In this world of digital age where more than
90 percent of the world’s total databases are maintained digitally, security related concerns are of
utmost importance to business entities, federal agencies, and also to individuals. We hear the common
term such as algorithm, encryption, data mining etc on a daily basis and we know that these are security
related terms that comes into play when protecting our information from attackers. However, our
concern in this work is not how they are protected and all the technicalities involved but to weigh the
existing dilemma regarding personal information protection and the ethical issues that come with. Let us
evaluate the Apple vs FBI controversy to analyze the subject and the underlying ethical dilemma (FTC,
2016).
Apple vs FBI controversy
It all started with San Bernardino, December 15 attack by Syed Rizwan Farook, who is allegedly
associated with the terrorist organization ISIS and FBI claimed that the attackers were inspired by ISIS’s
subversive activities in USA. Syed Rizwan’s I-phone 5C was discovered later and the phone comes with

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heavy encryption from Apple INC. FBI wanted further information about Rizwan and ordered Apple to
create a software that would enable the access of the perpetrators data. Apple denied and legal battle
continued until FBI declared that it didn’t need the access software anymore as the phone was accessed
with the help of other external agencies. However, district court had issued order for Apple to assist FBI
by providing the software. Apple objected and appealed before the FBI closed the case citing that the
phone was accessed (Kharpal, 2016).
Implications of the controversy
Apple’s landmark I-phones comes with heavy encryption that helps Apple generates lots of customers
from various sphere of activities such as businesses, private users, various state run agencies across the
globe, and groups. As the controversy began and the legal battle ensued, the debate between privacy
and state security took the centre stage. Apple argued that privacy of its millions of customers could not
be compromised as Apple had ensured them of any sort of decryption and any exception would come as
a precedent that Apple’s future phones would not remain any more secured if they follow FBI and the
magistrate’s order.
Ethical Dilemma
The dilemma in this case also has a ethical point from both the sides as both have their own compulsion.
Apple by its promise of high security encryption to consumers is compelled to keep the promise for
security reasons of its millions of customers whereas FBI also has ethical point apart from the existing All
Writs petition act as it is working for the overall security concern of innocent American citizens. The
issue of privacy to data and related safety is an ambiguous one as encryption facilities provided to
consumers are open to manipulation by perpetrators of illegal activities. On the other hand, significance
of encryption in the business world is also beyond doubt of utmost importance. Security and privacy is

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everyone’s right and every right is open to manipulation by very few individuals to carry out crimes that
may affect the large number of people as in the case of San Bernardino.
Conclusion
The confusion surrounding the legal implications of data security and access by security agencies would
always remain both legally and ethically confusing. It all depends on what benefits the state
administration and its people the most. A general consensus regarding the matter is almost impossible
as it is not possible to put oneself into the shoe of the victims of the San Bernardino and neither it is
possible to empathize with many people who lost their everything when their entire data was stolen by
crooks (FTC, 2016).

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References
FTC. (2016). FTC. Retrieved 12 10, 2016, from https://www.ftc.gov:
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/protecting-personal-information-guide-
business
FTC. (2016). FTC. Retrieved 12 10, 2016, from https://www.consumer.ftc.gov:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0272-how-keep-your-personal-information-secure
Kharpal, A. (2016, 03 29). CNBC. Retrieved 12 10, 2016, from http://www.cnbc.com:
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/29/apple-vs-fbi-all-you-need-to-know.html