Feds drop New York fight with Apple because someone gave them iPhone passcode

NEW YORK — The U.S. Justice Department said it has withdrawn a request to force Apple to reveal data from a cellphone linked to a New York drug case after someone provided federal investigators with the phone's passcode.

Federal prosecutors said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie that investigators were able to access the iPhone late Thursday night after using the passcode.

The government said it no longer needs Apple's assistance to unlock the iPhone and is withdrawing its request for an order requiring Apple's cooperation in the drug case. Read more...