Apple challenges 'chilling' demand to decrypt San Bernardino shooter's iPhone

Tim Cook publicly attacks the US government for asking Apple to take an 'unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers'

Apple has hit back after a US federal magistrate ordered the company to help the FBI unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters, with chief executive Tim Cook describing the demand as "chilling".

The court order focuses on Apple's security feature that slows down anyone trying to use "brute force" to gain access to an iPhone by guessing its passcode. In a letter published on the company's website, Cook responded saying Apple would oppose the order and calling for public debate.