The U.S. Department of Justice says it has appealed a ruling that prevents it from forcing Apple to unlock an iPhone in a New York drug case.
The Justice Department said, “The government continues to require Apple’s assistance in accessing the data that it is authorized to search by warrant.” It has filed the appropriate paperwork with the court overseeing the case in Brooklyn.
This matter is different from the case the FBI brought against Apple over the San Bernardino shooter’s phone. In that case, a third party helped the FBI decrypt the contents of the device. The FBI says, however, the method used to access the San Bernardino phone does not work on the New York phone. A magistrate judge ruled in February that the court can’t force Apple to assist in the New York case.
The Justice Department has already asked a more senior judge to review the decision. Today’s appeal is in addition to that action.
