Apple wants specialists' panel on encryption issues

New York

APPLE Inc has called for the creation of a government commission or panel of specialists on encryption to help resolve the stand-off over national security and data privacy that began last week after the technology company refused a US government demand to unlock an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

"Apple would gladly participate in such an effort," the company wrote in a post on its website.

Chief executive Tim Cook also sent a letter to employees on Monday morning explaining the company's position.

"This case is about much more than a single phone or a single investigation, so when we received the government's order we knew we had to speak out,…