Protests expected against FBI at Apple stores

CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- Demonstrators are expected to gather outside Apple stores Tuesday in support of the company which is refusing to help the FBI hack into a locked phone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters.

The iPhone belongs to gunman Syed Farook, one of two suspects authorities say are responsible for the massacre of 14 people.

"It's obvious these two people had assistance," Drexel University professor Rob D'Ovidio said.

That's why investigators are eyeing Farook's cell phone, a device D'Ovidio says is only useful if unlocked.

"They know if they can't find some mechanism to bypass this security system, they're never going to get into the phone because the data will be wiped clean," D'Ovidio said.

The tech giant cites privacy concerns, saying it won't "build a backdoor to bypass security features."

The FBI says it needs to be able to guess the terrorist's passcode without the phone self-destructing.

A new Pew research poll shows more than half of Americans think Apple should unlock Farook's phone.

"When the suspected terrorist is deceased, and given what they did, I think there's definitely less of an expectation of privacy - and not one here. And I hope Apple does the right thing," said Jason Angelo of Center City.

But not every Apple customer is on board. Some are torn.

"People aren't recognizing that as personal property. You have a right for that to be protected," said Heidi Thomas of Washington, D.C.

"You always wonder in the wrong hands could be used for nefarious purposes, I would feel nervous about that. At the same time, I want everything to be done to help the security of our nation," said James Won of Wynnewood, Pa.