> If I worked for the government and I wanted to break into an app, I'd simply send a letter to the app store saying ... There is no need for the "if" qualifie

> If I worked for the government and I wanted to break into an app, I'd simply send a letter to the app store saying ... There is no need for the "if" qualifier. How about this: You pass a law that says the government can compel any software company to assist them in any way they deem fit. For example they might demand Apple assist them by modifying their iPhone keyboard so it sent all the keys tapped together with the app they sent those keys to (eg, the key strokes the sent to Signal). The law could also demand Apple provides access to any device they target by auto installing the new keyboard app via auto updates. For good measure, the law could carry an automatic gag order, preventing any disclosure of these requests for Assistance and Access. The country that actually passed such a law is Australia. It's called the "Assistance and Access Bill 2018". [0] So there you go, it's already been done. There is no need to speculate about what might happen - it's already happened. [0] https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6195 https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislat...