U.S. Judge Ordered Apple To Help Retrieve Data In Boston Case

Court documents show a federal magistrate in Boston ordered Apple Inc. to help the FBI retrieve data from a locked iPhone that was seized from a suspected gang member.

The Feb. 1 order from U.S. Magistrate Marianne Bowler was unsealed Friday after the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's office moved to have the information made public.

The company responded in court filings that it was unable to comply because of the type of operating system involved and there is no indication the FBI pursued its request further.

Apple declined comment Friday.

The Boston ruling preceded another February order by a U.S. magistrate judge to help the FBI break into an iPhone used by a gunman in the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California.

The FBI later announced it had hacked into that phone.