Worldwide Protests Back Apple Against FBI iPhone Backdoor

Rallies were held around the world on Tuesday outside of Apple stores to back the manufacturer in resisting FBI attempts to create an iPhone “backdoor” to allow authorities to access protected information.

Demonstrations were organized in some 30 cities including Hong Kong, Munich, and several U.S. cities including New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., among others, spearheaded by the internet rights group Fight for the Future.

MEDIA: #DontBreakOurPhones rallies in nearly 50 cities today. Largest will be in San Fran, NYC, and Washington, DC pic.twitter.com/YSOtu3uMBf

— Fight for the Future (@fightfortheftr) February 23, 2016

“People are rallying at Apple stores because what the FBI is demanding here will make all of us less safe, not more safe,” said Fight for the Future’s Evan Greer in a statement. “Their unconstitutional attack on our digital security could put millions of people in danger, so we’re giving those people a way to get their voices heard.”

The FBI wants to unlock the iPhone 5C used by San Bernardino, California, shooter Syed Farook, who along with his wife opened fire at a house party killing 14 on Dec. 2, 2014.

Privacy rights advocates argue that the move would create a dangerous precedent for authorities to access confidential data.