At the same time, there are numerous historical examples of non-violent non-compliance nullifying that power. For example, when the Danish just refused to help the Nazis to isolate, persecute and exterminate Jews in their country, the Nazis weren't actually able to do all that much to change that.
People at Apple just refusing to assist the government is, in a way, the government's worst nightmare: it shows just how little power they actually have.
Some weak forms of political power grow out of the barrel of a gun. True power grows from the consent and support of the governed. Withdraw that consent, and the gun is shown to be a pitifully ineffective tool of government. Maybe this is a historical lesson we need to re-learn.
People at Apple just refusing to assist the government is, in a way, the government's worst nightmare: it shows just how little power they actually have.
Some weak forms of political power grow out of the barrel of a gun. True power grows from the consent and support of the governed. Withdraw that consent, and the gun is shown to be a pitifully ineffective tool of government. Maybe this is a historical lesson we need to re-learn.