Lockdown Mode Blocks FBI's Forensic Tools in iPhone Seizure
FBI seized Hannah Natanson's iPhone on January 14. Jan 30 court filing shows Lockdown Mode blocked FBI access. Apple introduced Lockdown Mode in 2022 for extreme protection. Lockdown Mode limits message attachments and blocks accessory connections. FBI failed to extract data; only SIM card data recovered. Civil liberties groups warn about 1980 newsgathering law threats. Attorney General Pam Bondi notes national security implications. Lockdown Mode blocks forensic tools like Cellebrite. Tradeoffs for high-risk users vs. law enforcement frustration