Apple Inc. must prove that it should not be required to let the FBI hack into the cellphone of one of the San Bernardino attackers, versus arguing that such a move could affect all of its users, retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden told
Newsmax TV on Thursday.
"The burden of proof is on Apple to show why they shouldn't allow the FBI — this one time for this one phone for a limited period of time under a court order — that Apple shouldn't help the FBI access otherwise unavailable information," Hayden told "Newsmax Prime" hosts J.D. Hayworth and Miranda Khan.
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Hayden directed both the CIA and the National Security Agency. His new book is
" Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror."
He said he disagreed with Apple CEO Tim Cook that breaking through such specific encrypted data would not jeopardize user privacy, though "I believe American security, not just privacy, but American security is better preserved with unbreakable encryption."
Regarding San Bernardino, "Tim Cook is making the claim that if I begin to do this, I will inevitably end up over here," Hayden added. "I don't see it."
In an interview on "The Steve Malzberg Show," Hayden said that his new book seeks to shed light on American espionage, which is "one of the least understood, most misunderstood, institutions in American society.
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"Americans need to better understand both the people who do this on their behalf and how they do it," he added. "This is hard work.
"These are tough choices. This is not a black-and-white world. It is a gray world, and you're always balancing things.
"Actually things that are values: liberty, security, safety, privacy," Hayden told Malzberg. "None of the choices are easy — and all of them have tradeoffs."
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