iPhone-unlocking technology is giving law enforcement access to encrypted data

An iPhone.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Law enforcement agencies across the country are scrambling to get their hands on technology that can "break into iPhones," Motherboard reports.

An investigation by Motherboard published Thursday found that police forces and federal agencies have purchased a tool called GrayKey, which can bypass encryption on even the most up-to-date iPhones so that officials can see contacts, messages, photos, and more. Each GrayKey unit is a small box outfitted with cables to connect iPhones, and there are two versions: One costs $15,000 and can unlock 300 phones, while the other runs $30,000 and can unlock an unlimited number of devices.

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Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.