remember Lavabit [0]? will Apple choose to shut down rather than to comply [1]? if the government comes with a warrant, it will be with a gag order, and they will be compelled to silently update your phone to extract whatever the govt needs over the course of a few months.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavabit
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pen_register#Pen_Register_Act
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI%E2%80%93Apple_encryption_d...
in this case it could have set a dangerous (and expensive) precedent for them.
that does not mean they will fight any and all requests.
Sure Apple could update your device to send all your photos unencrypted to them. They could also remotely turn on the mic and spy on all of us. They could also add key word detection to iMessage and flag law enforcement if you text out the wrong words.
I think everyone here understands what Apple could do. Which is why it’s a good thing that signs point to Apple not wanting their customer data. And why Apple refusing government orders that they feel violate their customers is unequivocally a good thing (even if they’re doing it for selfish reasons)
that e2e encryption by a third party does not give you privacy from the US government if that third party can remotely control or update your device and is subject to US laws. it is a direct reply to the assertion made in the GP: "The adversary is someone attacking the service provider, like a hacker or a government with a warrant, and getting access to Apple's storage of your data."
Apple will probably comply, just like I would probably comply rather than go to jail or suffer injury to myself or my loved ones. But I think it's fair to treat that as a distinct threat.