Twitter users back Apple in fight with US over iPhone access

Edward Snowden and others on Twitter rallied on Wednesday in support of Apple Inc's opposition to a US court order to help federal investigators by unlocking an iPhone used by one of the shooters in December's deadly attack in San Bernardino, California.

"Apple" and "San Bernardino" were trending heavily as topics on Twitter following Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook's decision to fight the order by a federal judge in Los Angeles that Apple provide "reasonable technical assistance" to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the case.

Cook on Tuesday called the order, issued that day, "a dangerous precedent," adding in a statement on Apple's website that "The implications of the government’s demands are chilling."

Cook's and Apple's response to the demand was viewed positively overall on Twitter, according to social media analytics firm Zoomph.

Snowden was among several high-profile digital privacy advocates who weighed in.

Snowden, who is accused of violating US espionage laws by leaking details of government surveillance programs, now lives in Russia.

Prominent technology writer and entrepreneur Anil Dash also tweeted:

Several Twitter and Facebook users applauded Apple's statement by using the hashtag #standwithapple.

But the support on Twitter for Apple's stance was not unanimous.

Ian Bremmer (@ianbremmer), the president of Eurasia Group, a political risk research and consulting firm, tweeted:

Current and former Apple employees also weighed in, wishing Cook the best in his opposition to the order.