The legendary Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs in a garage in the late ’70s. When it comes to technology over the last 40 years, he’s been around it all and has seen it all. Keep in mind that the man created the first Apple computers, from hardware to Operating System when he was in his early 20’s and even though he technically quit Apple, he still has a healthy stipend and plenty of stock in his former brainchild. That’s how respected he is, and that’s why he’s the perfect person to discuss the current battle between the FBI and Apple.
The FBI wants to unlock Apple’s security and roll back its safeguards to access any data that terrorists may be holding on their devices, which is concerning to many due to its 4th amendment and right to privacy implications. While safety (and due process) is extremely important, there isn’t a simple solution for this conundrum, and it’s a difficult scenario to explain succinctly to the masses. Thankfully, Wozniak was able to do it on Conan of all places.
Now, Woz has always been someone that’s marched to the beat of his own drum. He taught elementary-school computer classes to children and teachers and is a founder of the Electronic frontier Foundation, which protects to technologies from abusive legal threats and calls out the government on any malfeasance, as well as works with governments and courts to guide their understandings of new technologies, and works to preserve online freedoms and activities. Needless to say, Wozniak is an important man, and he drops the mic regarding the FBI and Apple case on Conan.
