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Microsoft, Google, Twitter Plan to File in Support of Apple

Microsoft, Google and Twitter all have plans to file in court in support of Apple’s position not to comply with the court order issued on Feb. 16.
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America’s biggest tech names will rally to Apple’s side in the high-profile court case that would compel the company to help access an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino massacre shooters.

Microsoft, Google and Twitter all have plans to file in court in support of Apple’s position not to comply with the court order issued on Feb. 16. It was not immediately clear whether the companies would file a joint amicus brief or whether some would file individually.

Read More: Apple Asks Judge to Vacate Order in San Bernardino iPhone Case

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, Microsoft President Brad Smith said that the company would file an amicus brief in support of Apple next week in the California case.

“We do not believe that courts should seek to resolve issues of 21st century technology with law that was written in the era of the adding machine,” Smith said. “We need 21st century laws that address 21st century technology issues, and we need these laws to be written by Congress. We therefore agree wholeheartedly with Apple that the right place to bring this discussion is here, to the House of Representatives and the Senate, so the people who are elected by the people can make these decisions.”

Sources familiar with the matter confirmed to NBC News on Friday that Google is also planning on filing a brief in support of Apple.

Read More: Why Are Apple and the FBI Battling Over an iPhone?

A Twitter spokesperson also confirmed to NBC News that that company expects "to be on a brief supporting Apple," but declined to say whether that filing would be alone or in conjunction with other companies.

Apple, one of the world’s most valuable companies, has been feuding with the FBI in filings — and the court of public opinion — over whether the company should be forced to build a tool that would bypass security features on an iPhone 5C used by Syed Rizwan Farook.

Apple filed a motion to vacate the California magistrate judge’s order on Thursday, arguing that being forced to help the FBI break into the iPhone used by Farook would violate the company’s First and Fifth Amendment rights, and impose an undue burden.