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If you read the letter, they already said they have, do and will aid law enforcement in any lawful way they are able.

They question the lawfulness of this particular request.

I understand the technical issues, and understand the broader implications...

But, one thing has been bugging me about this case and your comment that Apple questions the "lawfulness of this particular request" leads me to ask:

Does 4th Amendment protection end at death...?...the terrorist is obviously dead...

I've been looking and don't find answers that satisfy me...?

Anyone?

Apple isn't questioning the legality of the request based on 4th amendment concerns. Most requests from law enforcement ask a company to give up information they already have. What makes this unique is that the request is for Apple to decrypt the device -- an ability they do not currently have. Further, there is no law requiring Apple to have the ability to decrypt the device.

So this request is really a request for Apple to develop a way to break their own encryption, which brings up a lot of slippery slope concerns. If Apple can be forced by the government to develop a way to break into this version of their OS, what would stop them from being forced to develop cracks for other versions of their OS?

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