Feds have asked Google for help breaking into phones, too - CNET

Apple isn't the only company the govement has tapped for help getting data from smartphones.

The feds have asked both Google and Apple to help it break into smartphones at least 63 times, according to data published Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union. About 90 percent of request were directed toward Apple, while 10 percent involved requests for Google to unlock phones ruing its Android mobile operating system, the ACLU said.

Apple's tangles with the FBI are well-known, thanks to a high-profile battle over data used by a shooter in November's San Beardino, Califoia, attack. In that case, the Department of Justice invoked a 1789 law called the All Writs Act to demand Apple create new software to help it unlock the iPhone used by the shooter. In the end, the FBI broke into the phone without Apple's help.

A host of technology giants, including Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft and Google filed a friend-of-the-court brief, also known as an amicus, earlier this month throwing their support behind Apple.

Until now, Google's dealings with the govement over smartphone data have been out of the spotlight. It's unclear how many times each company complied with the requests.