The Department of Justice says the court order requiring Apple to help the FBI gain access to the iPhone used by Syed Farook is a “modest” one.
Farook was one of the terrorists who along with his wife, killed 14 people in the shootings in San Bernardino in December.
The FBI wants Apple to hack into his iPhone to see if there is any other relevant terror information, and Apple has refused.
The DOJ agrees with a California federal magistrate because it applies only to a single iPhone, and doesn't compel Apple to unlock other iPhone's or give the government a universal master key or back door.
Apple's attorney called the Justice response a “cheap shot”.