经济学人:解密手机 苹果对抗FBI的对与错

 Privacy and security

隐私与安全

Code to ruin?

解密手机？

The rights and wrongs of Apple's fight with the FBI苹果对抗FBI的对与错

CITIZENS have a right to both security and privacy. The difficulties arise when these two rights are in conflict, as they now are in the battle between the world's most valuable company and its most famous law-enforcement agency. Apple has refused to comply with a court order to help the FBI unlock an iPhone used by Syed Farook, one of the terrorists involved in the San Bernardino shootings in December. The company says the government's request fundamentally compromises the privacy of its users; the feds say that Apple's defiance¹ jeopardises the safety of Americans (see article).

公民应该享有安全和隐私的权利。然而当两者冲突的时候，问题就来了：这就是目前的情形——世界上市值最高的公司站在了赫赫有名的执法机构的对立面。苹果拒绝执行一项帮助FBI解锁iPhone的法院判决，该手机是使用者名叫Syed Farook，是参与12月份圣贝纳迪诺枪击案的恐怖分子之一。公司表示政府命令从根本上违背了消费者隐私权，而联邦政府则声称，如果苹果对该项判决拒不执行会危害美国人民的安全，Some frame the stand-off in terms of the rule of law: Apple cannot pick and choose which rules it will obey, they say. That is both true and beside the point. The firm has the right to appeal against a court order; if it eventually loses the legal battle, it will have to comply. The real question is whether Apple's substantive² arguments are right. That hinges on two issues.

一些人把这个僵局归因为法制：苹果不能选择性地遵守法律。这个观点没错但是并不切题。公司有权对于法院判决进行上诉，如果它在终审判决中败诉，就不得不遵守。真正的问题是，苹果这种实质性的争论是否正确。这取决于两点。

The first is whether the FBI's request sets a precedent³. The law-enforcers say not. This is not an attempt to build a generic⁴ flaw in Apple's encryption, through which government can walk as needed. It is a request to unlock a specific device, akin⁵ to wiretapping a single phone line. The phone belonged to a government department, not Farook. Apple and other tech firms regularly co-operate with the authorities on criminal cases; this is no different. Yet Apple is being asked to do something new: to write a piece of software that does not currently exist in order to sidestep an iPhone feature that erases⁶ data after ten unsuccessful password attempts. Later models of the iPhone than the one Farook used are harder to compromise in this way. But if the court's ruling is upheld, it signals that companies can be compelled by the state to write new operating instructions for their devices. That breaks new ground.

第一要看FBI的要求是否会开先例。执法机构认为不会，这并不会在苹果的加密系统中制造一个政府可以随意进出的普遍漏洞，他们只是要求解锁一个特定装置，这就相当于搭线窃听一个特定的电话一样。这部手机属于政府部门，而不再是Farook。苹果和其他科技公司经常会配合当局解决犯罪案件，这次也并无不同。然而这次执法机构要求苹果做的是一件前所未有的事情：写一个全新的程序去阻拦iPhone中“输错10次密码就会清除所有数据”的程序设定。在Farook手机之后生产的新型号iPhone较难用这种方法破解。但是，一旦此判决被执行，就表示政府可以强令公司改写其产品的运行指令。这会为后人打破先例。

The second issue is whether that precedent is justified⁷. And that entails⁸ a judgment⁹ on whether security would be enhanced or weakened by Apple's compliance¹⁰. In the short term, the answer is that security will be enhanced. Farook was a terrorist; his phone is the only one being unlocked; and the device might give up the identity of other malefactors. But in the longer term, things are much fuzzier.

第二要看先例是否公正。问题来了：苹果此番承诺后，安全性是增强还是减弱呢？短期而言，答案是安全性会被加强。Farook曾是个恐怖分子，他的手机是现在唯一正被解锁的，而且可能从这台设备中发现其他罪犯的身份。但长期而言，事态越来越扑朔迷离。

Security does not just mean protecting people from terrorism, but also warding¹¹ off the threat of rogue¹² espionage¹³ agencies, cybercriminals and enemy governments. If Apple writes a new piece of software that could circumvent¹⁴ its password systems on one phone, that software could fall into the hands of hackers¹⁵ and be modified to unlock other devices. If the capability¹⁶ to unlock iPhones exists, so will the temptation for the authorities to use it repeatedly. And if tech firms are forced to comply with this sort of request in America, it is harder for anyone to argue against similar demands from more repressive governments, such as China's. This newspaper has long argued against cryptographic backdoors and skeleton keys on these grounds. It is possible to imagine a scenario¹⁷ that might override¹⁸ such concerns: if information is needed to avert¹⁹ a specific and imminent²⁰ threat to many lives, for example. But in this instance, Apple's case is the stronger.

安全性不仅意味着保护人们免受恐怖主义危害，还能规避流氓间谍机构、网络罪犯与敌军政府的威胁。如果苹果写了一个新的软件，能够规避一部手机的口令系统，那么软件就能落入黑客手中，被他修改并解锁其他设备。如果有能力解锁iPhones，那么当局也同样会反复使用此项技能。如果技术公司被迫同意美国这种请求的话，那么换作其他更具压迫性的政府，例如中国，他们若提出这般相似请求，会更难对抗。本报长期反对解密后门与基于此方面的万能钥匙。可以去想象一个这样的场景，或许能扫除这些担忧：需要获取数据信息来避免对许多人构成的一次特殊紧急威胁。但在这种情形下，苹果案例比较有说服力。

Core arguments

核心论证

This battle presages²¹ others. If the courts rule against Apple, it will work to make its devices so secure that they cannot be overridden²² by any updates. In that event (or, indeed, if the tech firm wins the Farook case), legislators will be tempted²³ to mandate²⁴ backdoor access via the statute²⁵ book. If Tim Cook, Apple's boss, is not to hasten the outcome he wishes to avoid, he must lay out the safeguards that would have persuaded the firm to accede²⁶ to the FBI's request. Tech firms are at the centre of a vital policy debate (see article). Apple has rejected the authorities' solution. Now it must propose its own.

这场对战还预示了其他方面。如果法庭判苹果败诉，它将会使它的设备安全到不会被任何更新软件推翻。倘或确实科技公司在Farook案例上获胜，执法人员将会选择通过成文法强制指令解密后门。如果苹果老板Tim Cook不打算加速实现他想规避的结果，那他必须安排好本可以说服公司同意FBI要求的安全措施。科技公司处于重要政策争论的中心。苹果已经拒绝官方的解决方式。现如今它必须提出自己的解决方式。

1.law enforcement 执法部门

例句:The SEC, however, functions as law enforcement.

SEC则发挥着执法机构的作用。

2.involve in 介入

例句:A late booking may involve you in extra cost.

预订晚了的话你可能要额外多花钱。

3.in terms of 依据

例句:This is an ecological²⁷ approach, the occurrence of disease is examined in terms of the interrelationship between man and his total environment.

根据人群与其总环境的相互关系对疾病的发生进行调查。

4.attempt to 试图

例句:He made a desperate attempt to hijack²⁸ a plane.

他铤而走险，企图劫持一架飞机。

 

1 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

2 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

3 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

4 generic   

adj.一般的，普通的，共有的

参考例句：

• I usually buy generic clothes instead of name brands.我通常买普通的衣服，不买名牌。
• The generic woman appears to have an extraordinary faculty for swallowing the individual.一般妇女在婚后似乎有特别突出的抑制个性的能力。

5 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

6 erases   

v.擦掉( erase的第三人称单数 )；抹去；清除

参考例句：

• This command erases all data on the specified partition. 这指令在指定的分区上抹去所有的数据。 来自互联网
• A literary image erases the more indolent images of perception. 文学意象抹除那些感官的懒惰意象。 来自互联网

7 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

8 entails   

使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The job entails a lot of hard work. 这工作需要十分艰苦的努力。
• This job entails a lot of hard work. 这项工作需要十分努力。

9 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

10 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

11 warding   

监护，守护（ward的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Magina channels a powerful warding magic damping the negative effects of spells. 敌法师用守护魔法来抵御负面法术的攻击。
• Indeed, warding off disruption is the principal property of complex systems. 的确，避免破损解体是复杂系统主要的属性。

12 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

13 espionage   

n.间谍行为，谍报活动

参考例句：

• The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.官方已经逮捕了几个涉嫌从事间谍活动的人。
• Neither was there any hint of espionage in Hanley's early life.汉利的早期生活也毫无进行间谍活动的迹象。

14 circumvent   

vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜

参考例句：

• Military planners tried to circumvent the treaty.军事策略家们企图绕开这一条约。
• Any action I took to circumvent his scheme was justified.我为斗赢他的如意算盘而采取的任何行动都是正当的。

15 hackers   

n.计算机迷( hacker的名词复数 )；私自存取或篡改电脑资料者，电脑“黑客”

参考例句：

• They think of viruses that infect an organization from the outside.They envision hackers breaking into their information vaults. 他们考虑来自外部的感染公司的病毒，他们设想黑客侵入到信息宝库中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Arranging a meeting with the hackers took weeks againoff-again email exchanges. 通过几星期电子邮件往来安排见面，他们最终同意了。 来自互联网

16 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

17 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

18 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

19 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

20 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

21 presages   

v.预示，预兆( presage的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• This sign presages rains. 这种迹象是下雨的预兆。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• And each presages the bigger pivots ahead in China's course. 每一件也都预示着中国今后路线的更大转机。 来自互联网

22 overridden   

越控( override的过去分词 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要

参考例句：

• The chairman's veto was overridden by the committee. 主席的否决被委员会推翻了。
• Property '{0}' is not declarable, and cannot be overridden. 属性“{0}”是不可声明的，不能被重写。

23 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

24 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

25 statute   

n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例

参考例句：

• Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute.保障消费者利益已在法令里作了规定。
• The next section will consider this environmental statute in detail.下一部分将详细论述环境法令的问题。

26 accede   

v.应允，同意

参考例句：

• They are ready to accede to our request for further information.我们要是还需要资料，他们乐于随时提供。
• In a word,he will not accede to your proposal in the meeting.总而言之，他不会在会中赞成你的提议。

27 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

28 hijack   

v.劫持，劫机，拦路抢劫

参考例句：

• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。
• The hijack take place just after the plane take off.劫持是飞机刚起飞后发生的。