As the U.S. Justice Department's legal assault to gain access to terrorist Syed Farook's Apple iPhone has made headlines nationally, a similar debate has emerged locally and across Ohio. A conference at the Cleveland Convention Center last week drew hundreds of police officers and prosecutors. It highlighted the sensitive line between police and the public's right to privacy. It also underscored the growing confidence felons have in online devices.

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Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty said the case involving Apple and its fight with the FBI over a terrorist's iPhone has had wide-ranging effects: "The criminals are well aware of Apple's policies (over privacy), and they appreciate those policies. (Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer)

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Tashfeen Malik and Syed Farook killed 14 people in a terror attack Dec. 2 in San Bernardino. Authorities want to unlock Farook's iPhone, which was given to him by his former employer, the San Bernardino County Health Department. The FBI wants to unlock the phone to determine whether others might have been involved in the attack. (The Associated Press)

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The U.S. Justice Department's filed its stance in court documents last week: "The government and the community need to know what is on the terrorist's phone.''

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Apple CEO Tim Cook: "At stake is the data security of hundreds of millions of law-abiding people, and setting a dangerous precedent that threatens everyone's civil liberties. Cook made the statement in a letter to company employees, according to published reports. (The Associated Press)

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Across the country, activists have railed against the FBI's attempt to gain information off Farook's phone. They fear that the precedent would allow the government to gain access to personal and financial information they wish to protect. (The Associated Press)

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The American Civil Liberties Union said it would be catastrophic if a federal judge gave the FBI access to the iPhone. In a column, an ACLU executive wrote, "In a democracy, companies are not conscripted to work for the government against their will.'' (The Associated Press)

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In a somewhat similar case, Cuyahoga County prosecutors fought to obtain information that was encrypted in a corruption case. In 2014, prosecutors sought to unlock an encrypted portion of former Bedford Municipal Judge Harry Jacob's personal laptop, which prosecutors said he used to find prostitutes. A judge denied the request, saying it would have violated his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Jacob was later convicted of soliciting and falsifying records. (Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer)

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Rick Bell, an assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor, on the Apple fight with the Justice Department: "We're watching this case with much interest. It is an important issue. (Encrypted material on a digital device) hasn't thrwarted us, but it has hindered us." (Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer)