MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Not everyone is agreeing with Apple in its tussle with the FBI on unlocking an iPhone linked to the San Bernardino shootings.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates disagreed with Apple’s Tim Cook regarding fighting the FBI’s request. (READ: Apple says expert panel should take up encryption issue)

Despite disagreeing with Cook, Gates said on Bloomberg TV on Tuesday, February 23, that he was ‘disappointed’ by earlier reports of him supporting the FBI regarding the Apple iPhone unlocking case. According to Gates, “that doesn’t state my view on this.”

Gates held the belief that, “with the right safeguards, there are cases where the government, on our behalf – like stopping terrorism, which could get worse in the future – that that is valuable.” 

He also urged for a more moderate balance between personal security and national security.

Discussion on issues is important

Speaking earlier with The Financial Times, Gates repeated the US Justice Department’s claim that the request is just for this particular case.

“This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information,” he said. “They are not asking for some general thing, they are asking for a particular case.”

Gates went on to say that the discussion on issue of encryption is important.

He explained to The Financial Times, “I hope that we have that debate so that the safeguards are built and so people do not opt – and this will be country by country – it is better that the government does not have access to any information.”

The Verge noted in its report that Gates’ former company, Microsoft, approved of Apple’s stance. The company’s current CEO, Satya Nadella, however, has yet to comment on the issue, save for retweeting a statement in support of Apple by the Reform Government Surveillance Group.

Facebook, Google, Twitter, and other companies have also offered words of support for Apple. – Rappler.com