Tech giant Apple has announced that it will fight a federal court's order that instructs the company to create a backdoor software in order to bypass security protocols and access information on the iPhone used by the San Bernardino shooter. Apple described the federal government's effort as "an overreach."

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In a statement, Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote, "We have great respect for the professionals at the FBI, and we believe their intentions are good. Up to this point, we have done everything that is both within our power and within the law to help them. But now the U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create."

There is a raging debate about the benefits and consequences of creating a backdoor software for smartphones in order to curb terrorism or violence. Critics say the same idea of creating a backdoor software violates some users' privacy. It also threatens the overall safety of all smartphones users should the software fall into the wrong hands.

The debate about the creation of backdoor softwares started in December 2015, following the shooting in San Bernardino, California. Syed Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, open-fired on a group of people celebrating a Christmas party killing 14 of them. The couple were eventually neutralized in a shootout with the police.

Investigators were able to get ahold of Farook's iPhone, but are unable to access its content since it is encrypted by user-created passcode. On top of that, Apple's operating system has a feature that will automatically erase all data stored on a user's phone after 10 failed attempts of inputting the correct passcode.

The federal government is trying to bypass that security protocol by asking Apple to create a backdoor software.

United States Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym issued an order forcing Apple to create such a backdoor and give investigators complete access to Farook's iPhone. But Apple said that it will contest the magistrate's order.

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