Donald Trump has spoken out about Apple's current refusal to offer the US Government a 'backdoor' into the iPhone's operating system.
Speaking on Fox and Friends, Trump responded: "To think that Apple won't allow us to get into her cellphone? Who do they think they are? No, we have to open it,"
A magistrate recently ordered Apple to assist with the FBI's attempts to hack into an iPhone belonging to one of the shooters involved in the San Bernardino attack.
Apple has since responded to the court order with an open letter from Tim Cook explaining the 'chilling' consequences that would follow if the company created a 'backdoor' for the government with which to access the phone in question.
According to Cult of Mac the Presidential candidate continued saying: “I agree 100 percent with the courts, in that case, we should open it up. I think we have to open it up and we have to use our heads. We have to use common sense. Somebody the other day called me a common-sense conservative. We have to use common sense.”
SEE ALSO:
In the letter penned 'A message to our customers', Apple CEO Tim Cook explains the specifics of the request that had been made and declares that the US Government have "asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create."
The iPhone has a number of 'self-destruct' mechanisms built in which mean that if an incorrect passcode is entered more than ten times the key which encrypts the entire phone is destroyed.
So far the FBI have been unable to access the phone without then risking the complete destruction of all the data held inside.
To try and get around these security mechanisms the FBI have demanded that Apple create a tool which will let them access the phone.
The FBI want a 'backdoor' through the encryption which currently protects every iPhone.
"Specifically, the FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features," explains Cook.
The Apple CEO goes on to explain that, "In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession."
This isn't the first time that the Presidential hopeful has spoken out about Apple. Last month Trump ended a speech at Liberty University with the claim that if he won the election he would move all of Apple's production from China to the US.
“We’re going to get Apple to build their damn computers in this country instead of other countries.” shouted Trump.