Within the past some years, the security within the United States has been violated multiple times. It is understood that a nation with the most utility is a nation that safety is a fundamental standard. Without a doubt, when safety is an issue, utilitarianism will find a way to protect the greater good, even when the decision is abstract and difficult. Was Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, justified in refusing to engineer a software to help create a “backdoor” to unlock the terrorist’s iPhone, in short, yes, Cook’s actions were justified. Cook’s decision to refuse the FBI to mandate them to create a “Backdoor” entrance to go around the security measures of personal property was just because it was necessary in order to protect the greater good of society.
Before we go into a further analysis, I will note how I feel about happiness. Happiness is in two forms, individual happiness and the greater happiness. The greater happiness is the overall happiness a society has. Greater happiness is clearly more substantial than individual happiness as it has a much broader horizon. Simplified, as a society we should attempt to make society as a whole as happy as possible and in doing so we may focus on individual happiness and the happiness of those around us. I will make not back to my thoughts of happiness as I explain the following and how it can be related. Happiness and security I find very synergistic.
One of the more recent attacks on American Soil was the San Bernardino shooting this past December of 2015. The attackers terrorized their workplace and according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) an iPhone was possibly used in effort to organize and plan the attack. The FBI looked towards Apple, the engineers of the iPhone, for help to unlock the software in order to expedite the investigation. Tim Cook, Apples CEO and chairman, claimed to have helped the federal investigation to his full capabilities and that there was no possible way he could unlock the phone without putting the greater nation into further danger. Cook claimed that if he were to create the software necessary to unlock the passcode device, the software in the wrong hands could be a danger to society. It would have the capabilities of figuring out the passwords for essentially everything (banks, emails, phones, homes, etc.).
It is understandable as to why the FBI would request for Apple to create the software, in order to figure out the motivations of the terrorists and to prevent future attacks. However, if the creation of the software would put more of the population in danger than help, it is clear to see that the creation of the software would put the greater nation and well being of the people at risk. A quote pulled from my work On Liberty can be drawn, “Civil, or Social Liberty: the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual.” Clearly, in this instance, the FBI’s desire to unlock the iPhone would, without doubt, help out the case in order to uncover terrorist motivation. For the individual FBI need, the password “backdoor” would help, but in order to maximize the safety of the entire society, the software cannot be created. In short, the creation of the “backdoor” software would cause an enormous security threat for the entire society. Therefore, it will be for the greater good to not create the software. According to utilitarianism, it is unjust for the FBI to force Tim Cook and Apple to create a program to break into locked iPhones, computers, and everything else with a passcode. Though the unlocking of the terrorists phone would aid investigation, the great societies personal tech security is of greater importance.
I want to be clear that it is without doubt that killing is bad, if not one of the worst things to exist. Even though the FBI claims that the invention to create the “backdoor” around security measures could save lives and prevent future terrorist attacks it is not a certainty. What is a certainty is that everyone that has a passcode/secured device with a password would be in danger with the creation of a device that could go around there personal security measures. As I analyze the FBI’s request for Apple and Cook to create a “backdoor” route to gain access into locked personal property I fear that it dangers the greater society that it would help in the long run.
-J.S. Mill