San Bernardino shooting victim's father says Apple should cooperate with FBI

@SBcountyNow on Twitter

SAN BERNARDINO >> Gregory Claybo, father of Sierra Claybo, one of the county environmental health specialiasts killed in the Dec. 2 mass shooting in San Beardino, said Wednesday he understands Apple Inc.’s position objecting to help the federal govement unlock an iPhone used by gunman Syed Farook.

But given the circumstances, Apple should cooperate with the FBI, so long as it could do so without jeopardizing customer security and proprietary information, Claybo said.

A U.S. magistrate ordered Apple on Tuesday to help the federal govement hack into an encrypted iPhone belonging to Farook. The ruling requires Apple to supply highly specialized software the FBI can load onto Farook’s county-owned work iPhone to bypass a self-destruct feature, which erases the phone’s data after too many unsuccessful attempts to unlock it.

“It’s one of those situations where they’re trying to find out if other people were involved and if (Farook and Malik) were plaing other attacks,” Claybo said. “I think Apple should help them. This warrants them helping and getting this situation resolved.”

Apple CEO Tim Cook has objected to the judge’s order, saying it endangers privacy for millions of customers.

On Jan. 21, claims seeking more than $200 million in damages were filed against the county on behalf of the Gregory Claybo, his wife Kimberly - Sierra Claybo’s stepmother - and Tamishia Claybo, Sierra’s sister.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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