Lawmaker calls for federal boycott of Apple

Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., introduced legislation on Wednesday that would prohibit the federal government from buying any Apple products until the California company cooperates with the government’s investigation into terrorism on U.S. soil.

The government has pushed Apple to help authorities unlock a phone used by the two terrorists in the San Bernardino shooting in December. And while a court ordered Apple to comply, the company has resisted and is looking to appeal that order.

The company’s stance has infuriated national security-minded members of Congress, who say the company needs to help the government investigate acts of terror. Jolly’s bill goes further by saying the government should boycott the company completely until it offers its assistance.

“Taxpayers should not be subsidizing a company that refuses to cooperate in a terror investigation that left 14 Americans dead on American soil,” Jolly said.

“This is an order to cooperate in preventing the deletion of evidence on a single phone of a terrorist murderer who pledged allegiance to [the Islamic State] — nothing more,” Jolly said. “According to the FBI director, this phone likely contains communications preceding the terrorist attack, including potential calls and messages with fellow terrorists with whom he coordinated.”

He said Apple’s assistance is needed to help discover who the terrorists spoke with, and whether there’s any other information on the phone that might help prevent another attack in the United States.

“Following the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001, every citizen and every company was willing to do whatever it took to side with law enforcement and defeat terror,” Jolly added. “It’s time Apple shows that same conviction to further protect our nation today.”

Jolly’s bill is the No Taxpayer Support for Apple Act, and it says simply that no federal agency can buy any Apple product “until a court of federal jurisdiction certifies that Apple has provided the federal government with the technical support necessary to access encrypted information sought by a judicial warrant that may be materially relevant to the investigation of commission of terrorism.”

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