Frontline US Republican presidential hopeful, Donald Trump, has called on Americans to boycott Apple’s products and services until the maker of the iPhone, iPod and Mac computers, agree to help authorities break into the iPhone of terrorist Syed Farook, who alongside his wife killed 13 people in a December 2, 2015, shooting in San Bernardino, California.
Donald Trump, who says he uses an iPhone and a Samsung said he would stop using his iPhone until Apple helps the government, and called on all Americans to join him.
According to Trump, “I use both an iPhone and a Samsung and if Apple doesn’t give the information to the authorities on the radical Islamic terrorists I’ll only be using a Samsung – until such time as they give the information.”
He added: “Hopefully others will follow suit. Our country needs and should demand security. It is time to get tough and be smart!”
A Federal Magistrate Court had ordered the company to co-operate with the government, but Apple CEO Tim Cook said helping the government break into the security protocols of the phone would involve creating a “backdoor for the iPhone”, something they considered too dangerous to create.
He said breaking into the iPhone could help authorities trace other terrorists who might have been in contact with Farook, who was killed in a shootout with police.