It’s not FUD.
Under CALEA all software and hardware are required to give the government a backdoor key or access in some way.
CALEA even includes transmission.
They “invested” in companies and by law have access to technologies that they are part owner in.
As for the claim of backdoor, I doubt it will have any measurable effect on Apple sales.
Apple is a unique eco-system of “Gotta Have it” and “Fandom”
Besides, they make things that just plain work better.
That said, I don’t a single Apple product.
Mostly because I want to work on stuff I already know how to work with. Not that I can’t learn Apple just don’t feel like it.
Also, after I built my version of a dual processor 486-Dx2-66, mounted with a Creative Labs sound card, two 8meg Matrox video cards and my then gigantic 21” CAD/CAM Color CRT by Radius, someone put a sticker on my computer that read “It Smells Inside”.
I don’t want to say who it Woz but, the guy is a pretty big deal in the computer industry.
Might have even been on his employees at Cloud 9 for all I know.
That’s not really the reason but, that did happen and I no one ever fessed up to messing with my kewel azz machine.
CALEA does not apply to individual devices. Had it applied to individual devices it would have been un-Constitutional in 1994 when it was passed. It is a CARRIER level law and it does do what you say. . . but read the ACT. It says NOTHING about inserting anything in consumer devices. Everyone who makes these claims about cell phones assumes that CALEA covers them, but it simply does not. The law is directed to PHONE COMPANIES and WIRELESS CARRIERS and the equipment manufacturers who make the hardware to implement the CARRIERS' activities. Not individual consumers.
The law states its purpose is:
"To amend title 18, United States Code, to make clear a telecommunications carrier's duty to cooperate in the interception of communications for Law Enforcement purposes, and for other purposes.