Jolly proposes government boycott of Apple products

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Congressman David Jolly, (R)-FL, proposed a bill that would ban the federal government from buying Apple products, in response to the tech giant's refusal to unlock the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone.

Jolly announced his proposed legislation Thursday, saying taxpayers should no longer support Apple because of the company's position. Apple has opposed a California court order to build software to unlock the iPhone, citing fears the technology would fall into the wrong hands and compromise all iPhone users' private information.

According to Jolly, Apple's position represents a risk to national security.

"I don't believe taxpayers should be supporting Apple at a time when they refuse to cooperate into an investigation concerning terrorist activities on our homeland," Jolly said.

The locked iPhone is set to erase its contents if someone inputs an incorrect password 10 times. Apple says the Justice Department is asking them to create software that doesn't yet exist to counter that.

Jolly said he would drop the bill if Apple complies with the court order in the case, which is pending.

"If Apple decides to cooperate, then my bill goes nowhere because it would no longer be necessary, but I don't think taxpayers should be subsidizing the federal government's procurement of Apple products when they're standing in the way of national security," Jolly said.