Apple pushes back against judge's order to hack iPhone of dead terrorist

SEATTLE -- There was a huge fallout Wednesday from a federal judge's order that Apple help unlock the IPhone of one of last December’s San Bernardino terrorists.

Apple and many privacy advocates are pushing back hard, arguing that everyone’s sensitive information is at stake if the government gets its way.

In a strongly worded statement Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said:  “The U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone.”

On Tuesday, a U.S. magistrate in California ordered that Apple must assist the FBI to bypass Syed Farook’s iPhone security features and thereby gain access to the device’s data

Privacy activists have come to the defense of the cell phone company.  “Having the government, having Big Brother, tell you you must help us, that's why we have a Constitution,” argued Leo Terrell, a civil rights activist.

Cell phone locks have become more problematic for criminal investigators over the past few years, and some in law enforcement hope this ruling makes it easier to get court orders.

“I've had numerous homicide investigations, where I couldn't get into the physical phones,” said Tony Turnbull of the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department.