Apple case creates fervour for encryption bill in Congress

Washington

THE controversy over whether Apple should help federal investigators access one of the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone is putting renewed urgency behind legislative efforts to settle the contentious issue of when technology companies should comply with government requests for help accessing their customers' secure information.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James Comey strongly hinted to lawmakers last Thursday that it is time for Congress to begin a serious debate about encryption as Apple and the government battle it out in court with a California judge ruling last week that the tech giant should comply with investigators' demands.