[NewsPoster]

Apple is no longer under pressure from the Justice Department and a New York District Court for refusing to extract data from a suspect's iPhone 5s, as the defendant in the case has pleaded guilty. Jung Feng has admitted guilt on three counts related to the distribution of methamphetamine, effectively negating the need for the DOJ to try and coerce Apple into breaking its own iOS security to help the government with its case.

The DOJ advised to the court about Feng's plea yesterday, reports Macworld. A letter from US Attorney Robert L. Capers to Magistrate Judge James Orenstein states "The government persists in the application pending before the Court, but in view of the guilty plea, no longer requests expedited treatment."

The government initially wanted Apple to unlock the passcode securing the iPhone, as it believed there was important data crucial to the case, and asked the court to compel Apple to take action. Apple resisted, admitting it had the "technical ability" to unlock older phones, but would rather not do so, claiming it "could threaten the trust between Apple and its customers and substantially tarnish the Apple brand."

Judge Orenstein argued at the start of this week that forcing Apple to pull the iPhone's data would be the equivalent of demanding a pharmaceutical company provide drugs for executions against its mandate. It was also suggested by Orenstein that the request to Apple suggests the case was weak, and hinged on what could be extracted from the iPhone in question.

While the arguments in court are settled, debates over keeping a device secure and the relationship between manufacturers, customers, and governments over data security continue to roll on. Law enforcement agencies in the United States are keen to keep devices relatively easy to access for their own purposes, though President Barack Obama has backed off from applying pressure on technology companies, instead asking agencies and the tech industry to work together on solving the problem.

[aroxnicadi]

It's not over yet for Apple on this issue.

[Inkling]

Don't take Apple's remarks about "trust" seriously. Apple isn't so screwed up that it wants to see a meth dealer go free. This is mere show and pretense. After looking bad following the Snowden revelations, Apple wants an image makeover.

[slboett]

So how much did  pay this guy to cop a plea!!!
"Hello, Jung, this is Tim..."
"OK, I'll do it".

[chimaera]

Originally Posted by Inkling 

Don't take Apple's remarks about "trust" seriously. Apple isn't so screwed up that it wants to see a meth dealer go free. This is mere show and pretense. After looking bad following the Snowden revelations, Apple wants an image makeover.

The judge has given every indication he would rule in favor of Apple.

For every dealer, there must be at least one customer.

[Spheric Harlot]

I realize that inkling never, ever returns to read replies - he's purely a post-and-run guy - but for anyone else here:
How did Snowden's revelations make Apple "Look Bad?"

[Charles Martin]

Yes, that was a very curious statement -- Apple came out smelling like a rose after Snowden's revelations, including a slide (from a few years ago) pointing out that Apple wasn't cooperating with the government's "request" for a back door ...

[macmedia1]

Notice is out - everyone should upgrade to iOS 8 and later if they haven't done so already. That way, your info will be much more secure.