The FBI don't want the data on the phone, it has nothing of value, it's a consent-to-monitor work phone the FBI already has 6 weeks iCloud backups of, that wasn't at the scene of the crime and Farook didn't attempt to destroy, unlike his personal phone which was both at the scene and destroyed.
The FBI didn't ask for the data because they don't want it, they're after the legal precedent that compels any Technology's own company resources against them to compromise the security of their own products so they can use it to compel the hundreds of other phones they have in their possession that they also want unlocked.
Despite having no chance of producing anything meaningful, the FBI chose this tragedy to break character and go Public on because they're using the tragedy for maximimum PR and Political effect to increase their surveillance powers - frankly I find it dispicable that a law enforcement agency is so transparent, egregious and has stooped to such lows to make be making personal statements against Apple they know to be completely false so they can enrich their political agenda.
I'll take this a step further. Ultimately Director James Comey and the FBI want a future where it is illegal or impractical to deploy strong encryption without key escrow.
Few companies, actually practically no one, will offer encryption if it's going to cost them tremendous amounts of money and engineer time to hack each and every device on a piecemeal basis. The siren call of key escrow or an alternate decryption key that they maintain will be irresistible. Or the industry will move back in the direction of unencrypted devices, which would be just fine by the FBI.
The FBI didn't ask for the data because they don't want it, they're after the legal precedent that compels any Technology's own company resources against them to compromise the security of their own products so they can use it to compel the hundreds of other phones they have in their possession that they also want unlocked.
Despite having no chance of producing anything meaningful, the FBI chose this tragedy to break character and go Public on because they're using the tragedy for maximimum PR and Political effect to increase their surveillance powers - frankly I find it dispicable that a law enforcement agency is so transparent, egregious and has stooped to such lows to make be making personal statements against Apple they know to be completely false so they can enrich their political agenda.