Florida Sheriff: I'll Throw 'Rascal' Tim Cook in Jail Over Encryption

A Central Florida Sheriff has threatened to arrest Apple tree'south CEO, should the Cupertino tech giant fail to decrypt an iPhone at his request.

Polk Canton Sheriff Grady Judd made the comments at a printing briefing last week about the arrest of iii men accused of killing a drug dealer in Lakeland, Fla., according to Fox 13 News. The suspects in question have been cooperating with investigators, and provided the passcodes to their cell phones, which reportedly contain photos of the victim'due south torso.

But should Polk County investigators have trouble unlocking an iPhone in the time to come, Apple tree CEO Tim Cook ameliorate exist ready to provide help, Judd said.

"I can tell you lot, the first time nosotros do have trouble getting into a prison cell phone, we're going to seek a courtroom gild from Apple. And when they deny us, I'm going to get lock the CEO of Apple upwards," he promised. "I'll lock the rascal upwardly."

When specifically asked about Apple's motion to fight an FBI order seeking aid in unlocking an iPhone 5c owned by i of the San Bernardino shooters, Judd said Apple has a responsibility to comply.

"You lot cannot create a business model to go, 'We're not paying attention to the federal gauge or the state judge. You see, we're above the law,'" he said. "The CEO of Apple needs to know he's not above the law, and neither is everyone else in the Us."

Of course, that kind of rhetoric largely proves Cook's point in that the FBI's request to create an alternative OS to unlock the shooter's iPhone is not a 1-off thing. The agency says it needs the encryption croaky just this once, but Cook says that will open the floodgates of requests from other law enforcement officials hither and abroad.

Meanwhile, if you're yet wondering why Apple's encryption fight with the FBI is a big deal, let John Oliver break it down for yous. The host of HBO's Last Week Tonight addressed the ongoing encryption debate on his testify final night, explaining both sides before voicing support for Cupertino.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's expert on fitness and smart abode products. Teaching yoga for nearly x years has helped her in evaluating a range of continued health products including fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, forcefulness training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela also tests smart domicile devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to proper name a few.