What should Apple do in the face of this moral dilemma, and how should Apple make that decision?
You have probably heard about this in the news. Tuesday, February 16, 2016, Apple was ordered by a federal judge to help the FBI gain access to the mass shooter/”terrorist” Syed Rizwan Farook’s iPhone by disabling a feature that will lock them out after 10 unsuccessful tries. Farook’s father has said his son agreed with the Islamic State. Farook’s wife Tashfeen Malik also posted a Facebook message in support of the terror group about the time they killed 14 and wounded more than 20 in their Dec. 2, 2015 attack. Tim Cook has written a letter detailing his opposition to this order, and at the time of this assignment posting, Apple is deciding whether to appeal the federal judge’s order. Please write a memorandum to Tim Cook, Apple CEO, fully explaining two things: 1. How should the company ethically make this decision about this moral dilemma? 2. What should the company’s decision be? In doing this assignment, please check the relevant rubric (for Analysis Paper#2). This paper is a full analysis paper – you will need to incorporate your extensive stakeholder analysis along with an ultimate decision, justifying your arguments. (You are not bound at all by what happens in the real case as it plays out in the news after February 18th. Write and support your professional opinion to Apple’s CEO.) Here are some articles you may find helpful in getting started – you do not need to incorporate them into your memo, but you can if you like. Be sure to cite whatever you use in your memo in any logical citation format. A quick overview: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/02/17/latest-apple-vs-us-over-terrorists-iphone/80518610/ More overview: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/17/467096705/apple-the-fbi-and-iphone-encryption-a-look-at-whats-at-stake One piece supporting the position that Apple should not do it: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/02/17/tim-cook-retakes-the-stage-as-corporate-activist-in-apple-stare-down-with-fbi/ One piece supporting the position that Apple should do it: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/02/17/apple-san-bernardino-terror-attack-court-order-iphone-richard-burr/80525170/