Dive Brief:

• The FBI said now that it knows how to unlock an Apple iPhone, it plans to share the information with other law enforcement authorities that need help cracking encrypted devices. 
• The information was revealed in a letter to local investigators that appears to be a response to requests for help from local agencies.
• Though the FBI has not publicly disclosed the method it used to access the iPhone, experts think the agency's method is likely to leak, mitigating its use. 

Dive Insight:

The Justice Department's recent discovery of an iPhone hacking technique raised a lot of questions about whether or not that information would be shared. The agency did not promise investigators that it would deploy the same tool, but it did say it was committed to helping other law enforcement agencies.

"We know that the absence of lawful, critical investigative tools due to the 'Going Dark' problem is a substantial state and local law enforcement challenge that you face daily," according to the letter. "As has been our longstanding policy, the FBI will of course consider any tool that might be helpful to our partners."

Privacy groups have been pressuring the FBI to disclose to Apple how they were able to crack the iPhone so that Apple can address the issue. But as the hack is likely to leak, Apple would likely move to fill the gap in its encryption in future software updates.