Tech Firms Have Dual Responsibility: To Protect User With Privacy Policy And Cooperate With The Law - BlackBerry CEO

With regard to user privacy policy and the way it should work with authorities of the law, BlackBery CEO John Chen indirectly criticized Apple's approach, saying in a blog post, "Our privacy commitment does not extend to criminals."

He linked an article of ArsTechnica about reports that a federal judge in New York is not happy with Apple's user privacy policy in a case about one who is against the law.

The iPhone maker said about a basic approach towards user privacy policy and will not comply with government agencies and law enforcers when it does not need to, reported ValueWalk.

According to Chen, "For years, government officials have pleaded to the technology industry for help. Yet [the requests] have been met with disdain."

BlackBerry has the reputation of being the most secure mobile platform. Many powerful politicians trust it like US. President Obama, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, former president of France. Chen said BlackBerry does not favor tech companies' user privacy policy which deny law authorities access.  Just like individuals who have responsibility to restrict crime, big companies have responsibility to do "what they can."

Chen said of Apple as "one of the world's most powerful" companies and denying access request for a drug dealer investigation can "tarnish the brand." He added: "We are indeed in a dark place when companies put their reputations above the greater good."

Apple uses end-to-end encryption to FaceTime and iMessages, so it is not possible that it decrypts them. iOS 8 also came with strong encryption for the devices, making them inaccessible.

Many have criticized Apple's user privacy policy which is not friendly to law enforcers. That includes the US. Attorney General, DOJ, FBI, CIA, Homeland Security Committee and other government agencies.

Apple argued that "forcing it to extract data in this case, absent clear legal authority to do so, could threaten the trust between Apple and its customers and substantially tarnish the Apple brand."

With Edward Snowden revelations, CEO Tim Cook of Apple decided not to build backdoor access to devices running iOS 8 and 9, an action which frowned the Justice Department, said Ars Technica.

Chen concludes that the technology sector has a dual responsibility - to protect its customers with user privacy policy and to cooperate with official requests of law enforcers "for investigative access."