James Comey tears into Apple, Silicon Valley over encryption policies in new book

Former FBI director Comey talks about a wide range of issues he dealt with across his entire career, including his four years as FBI director in his book. Among those is the issue of encryption. Comey's views on the matter, as stated in the book, are consistent with those generally held by law enforcement, as well as what Comey has said all along in testimony and other public comments about data privacy and encryption.

In "A Higher Loyalty," as cited by Fast Company and LifeHacker, Comey addresses various disagreements the FBI has had with Apple and other Silicon Valley companies, most notably about Apple's refusal, in 2016, to unlock an iPhone belonging to Syed Rizwan Farook, one of the accused conspirators in the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack.

"Don't see the darkness"

Comey writes in the book that, when it comes to terrorism, crime, and other scourges "the leaders of the tech companies don't see the darkness the FBI sees."

"I found it appalling that the tech types couldn't see this," wrote Comey. "I would frequently joke with the FBI 'Going Dark' team assigned to seek solutions, 'Of course the Silicon Valley types don't see the darkness — they live where it's sunny all the time and everybody is rich and smart.'"

The former FBI director, however, made it clear that he realizes the balance between privacy and the needs of law enforcement is a hard one to strike.

"Apple is not a demon"

At the time of the San Bernardino controversy, Comey had also called for reconciliation between the FBI and Silicon Valley.

"Apple is not a demon; I hope people don't perceive the FBI as a demon," Comey said in April 2016.

He also called at the time for a legislative solution, rather than for the matter to head to the courts. Apple CEO Tim Cook was seeking the same thing.

Comey admitted the same month that the FBI had paid $1.4 million to unlock Farook's iPhone 5c. Much later, this last March, an FBI inspector general concluded that Comey and other top FBI officials did not make false statements to Congress in regards to the San Bernardino matter, while noting a lack of effective communication.

"A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership." retails for $17.99, and will be available on April 17.