does the FBI now compel them to return to Apple and write the software or go to jail?
I can't imagine any way in hell that would fly. The only remotely conceivable path to doing something like that would be to have Congress implement a draft, and draft them into the military. Anything else would almost certainly violate the 13th and/or 10th Amendments to the Constitution. And the draft thing is probably a stretch as well, especially in the absence of a declaration of war.
Then again, I never put it past the US government to try anything, no matter how illegal it is.
I sure can, and fully expect it to eventually happen, unfortunately.
The sad part is, As Tim Cook said, all this will do is push the bad guys to use an encryption app from somewhere else.
I have a good deal of experience in the US criminal justice system, and the one thing everyone I've met and done time with inside the system, from bank robbers to drug dealers to murderers say is, in the end, "They (the courts and prosecutors) Do What They Want"
In fact its such a common saying, its almost a running joke inside.
These Apple engineers will probably be able to afford pretty good lawyers. Heck, some good ones might offer to do this pro-bono, just because it could be a reputation / career maker.
I can't imagine any way in hell that would fly. The only remotely conceivable path to doing something like that would be to have Congress implement a draft, and draft them into the military. Anything else would almost certainly violate the 13th and/or 10th Amendments to the Constitution. And the draft thing is probably a stretch as well, especially in the absence of a declaration of war.
Then again, I never put it past the US government to try anything, no matter how illegal it is.