Apple's track record on user protection compared to Google or Samsung has been very good. For example, resisting wide net Federal "because terrorism" warrants as much as they legally can.

There's a reason why Apple 0 day exploits sell for way more on the black market than Android exploits.

Trust is hard to earn, easy to lose and even harder to regain. User trust is such a huge part of Apple's business and success, it's shocking to me they'd damage it so much and so fast.

A system that exists but has "protections" can and will be abused. A system that doesn't exist can't be. It's really that simple.

Here's the big question though: did Apple executives not realize there would be a backlash against this? Or did they just not care? Either is hard to fathom. Apple's board and shareholders should be asking some pretty tough questions of Tim Cook at this point.