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Apple, FBI To Square Off At Congressional Hearing

By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Apple and the FBI will square off at a Congressional hearing today over their "privacy versus security" standoff in the San Bernardino shooting investigation.

This comes a day after Apple got a victory over the government in court. A federal judge backed the tech giant, which refused to hack into a drug dealer's iPhone.

A federal magistrate judge in New York ruled Apple doesn't have to break into a meth dealer's iPhone to help investigators.

Similar to the San Bernardino case, Apple argues doing the government's bidding could throw the privacy of hundreds of millions of iPhone users under the bus.

The feds say it's all about security and safety, but CNET executive editor Ian Sherr says the ruling means momentum for Apple.

"The argument they may be putting forth may really hold some weight, and the argument the government's been making, using this 227 year old law, may not work."

The feds also reference that 2 century plus old law in San Bernardino. The All Writs Act, passed back in 1789, gives judges authority to issue any order within the confines of the law.

The Justice Department promises to appeal the ruling in New York.

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