>>”They can only ask him to unlock one specific door,
I addressed that in response to your “THIS ONE PHONE” statement earlier. You said that you didn’t disagree with this part:
“In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.”
This is more than one door, it’s a master key.
Cook is dissembling in his opposition. Apple can make the universal key. They unlock it, then remove the key, carry it back to Apple and grind it down to nothing.
I have yet to see where the government is demanding permanent possession of the key. Send some agents out, watch Apple unlock it. The agents use Apple equipment to brute-force the pin. They unlock it and download all data. Apple takes the pone and re-installs the old Ios.
Chain of custody is preserved, the government gets the data, Apple retains the special IOS and can destroy it.