In the wake of Apple v FBI, we need to address some uncomfortable truths

A temporary truce has emerged in the raging battle between Apple and the FBI, but technology fragility and corporate power remain unaddressed

It has been a spectacular six-week showdown - the world's most valuable brand, Apple, pitted against the powerful American agents of the FBI. Two titans of spin, locked in a fast-moving battle over a dead terrorist's smartphone. Now, as dramatically as it exploded, the FBI's legal demand that Apple help it crack the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino killers has evaporated - the agents hacked their way in anyway, assisted by a mysterious third party.

There was always more to the Apple v FBI case than met the eye - and it is true for this latest twist too. The biggest issue is that both sides stand to gain a lot more from this battle than any of us. With little relation to reality, and backed by a worryingly partisan chorus, the notoriously closed Apple is emerging as a champion of users' rights. Equally worryingly, a government agency is claiming the power to keep to itself a tool that can potentially break security features on millions of phones, while earmarking a demand for further judicial or legislative intervention in the future. Whichever way you look, this feud is far from a road to freedom in the digital environment.