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Us Department of Justice IPhone Apple

US government pursues Apple for access to iPhones in criminal cases

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By Gillian West, Social media manager

April 9, 2016 | 2 min read

The US Department of Justice is to pursue its request for Apple to unlock an iPhone connected to a New York drugs case.

A letter filed to a local court revealed the government "continues to require Apple's assistance." The news comes a month after the FBI dropped a court order demanding Apple help unlock the iPhone of San Bernardino killer Syed Farook.

Unsealed court papers from Boston show a judge ordered Apple to help with the criminal case, with the judge ruling it was "reasonable" to request the tech giant's help.

According to reports, US Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler made the Boston order in February, but it was only unsealed on Friday.

Earlier this year the FBI was able to access Farook's device independently but this method is said to only work on older handsets and this device - owned by alleged gang member Desmond Crawford - is a later model iPhone.

In February, a judge ruled Apple could not be forced to give access to the device and the judge denied a motion by the Justice Department - a decision which was followed by a government appeal.

Jun Feng, who owned that handset, pleased guilty to taking part in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. However, authorities still wish to unlock the device as part of an ongoing investigation into the conspiracy.

Us Department of Justice IPhone Apple

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