The FBI is once again asking Apple to access passcode-protected iPhones, this time belonging to Mohammed Saeed Alsamrani, the perpetrator of the Pensacola Naval Air Station attack.
Extracting the data stored on the device could help during the investigation, the FBI wrote in a letter sent to Apple this week, adding that they had not had much luck guessing the passcode so far.
Saudi Alshamrani killed three people during the attack, and the FBI is trying to figure out how he managed to buy the gun since foreigners cannot own firearms in the United States. Data from the phones could help in those investigations, the FBI explains.
FBI General Counsel Dana Bode, who signed the letter, reveals that they have already reached out to other federal agencies and various experts to unlock the two iPhones. Bode says the FBI has received court permission to unlock the phones, but doing so without Apple's help is impossible, given that they are locked with passcodes.
Apple is unlikely to help
Alshamrani, who was killed during the attack, was using two different iPhones, one of which was damaged during the attack. The FBI says it needs help from Apple to collect data from both devices. The physical damage also makes the whole operation more difficult on the second iPhone.
Apple explained in a statement to NBC that it is already cooperating with the government on this, but hinted that aside from making the data stored in the cloud available, it does not intend to take any further action regarding the two iPhones.
“We have the utmost respect for law enforcement and always cooperate with their investigations,” Apple said in a statement. “When the FBI requested information from us about this case a month ago, we provided them with all the information we have, and we will continue to support them with any information we have.”
The FBI contacted Apple to unlock an iPhone in late December when it tried to extract information from the device belonging to the San Bernardino shooter. Apple refused to do so, arguing that such a backdoor would compromise the security of all its devices. The FBI eventually turned to an unknown source who cracked the device.
