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Current Event March 4, 2016

Debate: Data Privacy vs. National Security


After a shooting in San Bernadino, California, a controversy has erupted around national security and data privacy. A federal judge has ordered the technology company Apple to access private data on the shooter’s cell phone. Apple has refused to comply. While the government feels that accessing this data is crucial for national security, Apple believes that doing so would be an invasion of privacy. The results of the case could impact the ways that phones are designed in the future. Listen to the story and debate with your students the issue of personal privacy versus national security.

Update: The FBI dropped its case against Apple to require them to unlock the iphone because it was able to use a third party to access the data on the phone.

Civics/Government Law Technology

Story Length: 3:31

Listen to the Story:

SOURCE:

National Public Radio © 2016 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.

AIR DATE: 02/17/2016