Bill Gates joins in Apple debate, backing FBI bid for one-time access

Bill Gates has insisted that Apple should help out the FBI by accessing and sharing the information on the phone used in the San Bernadino shooter's iPhone, with the Microsoft man believing this is a “particular case,” the CNN reported.

Apple has argued that, even in a single case, it would amount to letting the genie out of the bottle if they create software to allow the government access to the phone, and the tech community has been overwhelmingly supportive.

But Gates - who spends more time on his charitable foundation than Microsoft these days, has taken a different view, telling the FT: "This is a specific case where the government is asking for access to information.

"They are not asking for some general thing, they are asking for a particular case.”