Senate Bill Would Force Companies Like Apple to Unlock iPhones Anytime a Judge Says So

To keep devices and apps safe from hackers, tech companies have adopted modern security features that lock out everyone but the gadget's owner. Personal information is encrypted into indecipherable numbers and letters -- and the passcode is the only key. This bill would roll that back. It's an order to decrypt on demand. "Consumers have a right to seek solutions that protect their information," Committee Chairman Richard Burr said in a statement. "I do not believe, however, that those solutions should be above the law." It was put forward by the top two politicians in the Senate Intelligence Committee: Burr, a Republican from North Carolina, and Vice Chairman Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California. Both have a reputation for their conservative stances on national security matters.