[BlackSeal]

They have NEVER been asked to write a SIGEND copy of iOS that circumvents their security features until now for any phone.

[Cementjungle]

They have NEVER been asked to write a SIGEND copy of iOS that circumvents their security features until now for any phone.

They aren't asking for that... they just want in to this particular phone. In fact, wouldn't someone have to unlock this phone BEFORE being able to do an IOS update to install some back-door software?

[Cyberman]

They have NEVER been asked to write a SIGEND copy of iOS that circumvents their security features until now for any phone.

It is impossible to load iOS onto an iPhone unless it has a valid signature. Ergo, they most certainly have been asked to write a signed backdoored version of iOS (which could then be used on other iPhones, the government's double-pinky-swear promise to use it only for this one case notwithstanding).