&gt; If you don&#x27;t want companies to have the ability to put in backdoors, that&#x27;s something you need to get Congress to pass<p>(1) I don&#x27;t want that and (2) it wouldn&#x27;t be constitutional.  Congress shall make no law abridging free speech.  Code has been ruled free speech.<p>&gt; the risk is not increased by the software being created<p>That&#x27;s fine if you don&#x27;t believe what Tim Cook says about his product.  I do. Regardless, whether or not the DOJ can compel a company to weaken its product is the question being asked.  Handing over software or a signing key are both trade secrets Apple has a right to protect.  Handing over the signing key certainly increases risk.