AS IT IS 2016-03-31 Justice Department Unlocks Shooter's iPhone

AS IT IS 2016-03-31 Justice Department Unlocks Shooter's iPhone

The United States Justice Department says it has found a way to get information from an iPhone used by a shooter in last year’s mass shooting in San Bernardino, California.

The Justice Department also said it no longer needs help from the iPhone’s manufacturer, Apple.

The company had refused earlier demands by federal investigators¹ for help in recovering data from the device.

The government sought to require Apple to write new software programs to help investigators get the data without knowing the iPhone’s password. The government believed the information would help it in its investigation² of the San Bernardino shooting, in which 14 people were killed.

Last month, a judge ordered Apple to help the government. But the Justice Department announced this week it has been able to collect data from the phone. It asked the judge to cancel her order. She did so on Monday.

Last week, the government delayed another court hearing in the case. Officials said they needed time to test a method that could help them gain access to the iPhone without Apple’s assistance. That method was developed without the help of federal agents or Apple.

Lawyers for Apple have said that the company wants to know how the device was unlocked.

But the withdrawal³ of the court process could take away Apple’s ability to legally request details on the method the government used. It also is likely to raise questions among users of Apple products and the technology industry about the strength of Apple’s security on its devices.

Words in This Story

data – n. information such as texts, audio recordings⁴, video recordings and pictures

password – n. a secret series of numbers or letters that allows you to use a computer system or device

gain access – expression to enter a place or the storage area of an electronic device

unlock – v. to make (something) available for use

1 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐