Chain of custody. The guv would need to be able to prove, in a court of law, who touched it and when, for what purpose, etc. Handing it off to Apple in good fai

Chain of custody. The guv would need to be able to prove, in a court of law, who touched it and when, for what purpose, etc. Handing it off to Apple in good faith would make it inadmissible as evidence in a trial. You could argue that Apple could allow an official to be present while work is being done on the phone, but then Apple risks having it's (to-be-developed) method being viewed and/or captured by said official. Very risky.