Cybersecurity and personal rights have been the center of attention this week, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) opposing a court order from the FBI. On the broad strokes, the entire debate is centered on whether the U.S. government — or perhaps any government — has the right to force a company to divulge personal information about its customers. However, it is not as simple as that. The FBI wants Apple to develop software that essentially will create a backdoor into the iPhone operating system (iOS), allowing the government to retrieve information for any iPhone.
This has raised many questions across the business world. It also crosses technology barriers inside and outside of the country, and it generates questions about how consumers feel about their privacy, even after terrorism is involved. How far is the government’s reach? Does national security supersede my right to privacy/encryption? If Apple creates a backdoor, can it be abused? And who will be the gatekeeper?
Apple currently has until February 26, to comply with the courts, but undoubtedly we will hear more as Apple continues to protest and as this date approaches.
Other companies have felt the impact of this monumental move regarding data security, especially in the cybersecurity industry. including: FireEye Inc. (NASDAQ: FEYE), CyberArk Software Ltd. (NASDAQ: CYBR), Palo Alto Networks Inc. (NYSE: PANW) and Rapid7 Inc. (NASDAQ: RPD).
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