Mike Mpofu, Author at 1Africa

Jerry’s ‘Fear of God’

Mike Mpofu

-

April 5, 2016

When one thinks of men’s fashion or fashion in general, the last thing you associate that “culture” and “space” with is God.

For many years, my idea of fashion was runways, fashion shows, and pretentious people who wore expensive threads no one else could afford.

I was wrong.

For a while now, I have followed a designer, producer, and creative (just to mention a few of the ways to describe him) named Jerry Lorenzo.

Lorenzo, based in the United States, has influenced the way many of our current pop stars look at fashion.

Jerry Lorenzo founded the brand Fear of God, also known as FOG (pronounced F.O.G).

Before I wrote this I had found my own way of describing what his clothing line embodies. I was considering phrases like: “the reinvention of streetwear” or the “rebirth of denims” and “our introduction to our 21st century fashion icon”.

I don’t think I would have been wrong.

But I certainly think Jerry Lorenzo does an outstanding job of describing it himself.

On the FOG site you are greeted by Jerry’s fourth collection introductory video.

In the video, Jerry explains exactly what FOG is:

“I know that all things that are, were first in God. In this collection I can no longer hide behind conversation. It has to be a statement. Fear of God is not…it’s not a street wear brand, it’s not a men’s contemporary designer brand or even a Christian clothing line, for that matter. It’s denim, it’s fabrics, nylon, it’s bombers, but it’s His hand and it’s His grace that are on it. This is God’s brand.”

What an outstanding declaration about a clothing line.

Lorenzo’s influence through FOG has seen him work with a wide range of celebrities and influential figures.

For those that have been following, you would notice that Justin Bieber – who is currently on Tour – has only been wearing FOG on stage.

I also recently saw an Instagram by Kevin Hart, the comedian, where he is rocking a FOG bomber.

Apart from the bombers, which have become an FOG trademark item, one of the most incredible products from the brand are what Lorenzo describes as “Fear of God Resurrected Rock Tees”.

The resurrected tees are basically T-shirts from some of the most iconic rock bands of all time. They are reworked by Lorenzo and his team and finally branded “Fear of God”, usually on the back bottom part of the tee.

He has done this with Metallica merchandise, among others.

One of the most outstanding features that make FOG unique is Lorenzo’s approach to the design and production processes.

I recently came across an Instagram post that explains exactly what I’m talking about.

Basically what Lorenzo is saying in the Instagram post is that while he isn’t the greatest “photoshop guru”, he chooses to send to production every design concept that he grapples with.

Obviously this comes at a cost – literally – but what it does is give him an opportunity to “feel” the product. If it is a shoe (like the one above), he can feel the texture and any other variables they have to consider when producing.

So when you make a FOG investment (yes, investment), you can be assured the quality test has been a rigorous one. And the final product is truly something you can cherish, rely on, and ultimately enjoy.

FOG has also been a point of inspiration for me personally.

If you watch and listen to the FOG fourth collection video again, you’ll realise that Jerry does not hide behind any excuses about his faith.

And I think that is what attracts people to the FOG culture.

It’s not just for Christians, but it’s definitely God’s brand.

In a sense it represents the approach God would take with us if he walked among us in the flesh, today: I’m not just here for Christians, I’m here for everyone!

Apart from the website you can follow the FOG journey on Instagram and Twitter. You can also follow Jerry’s on his personal Instagram account.

Is Joe Biden the greatest hype man of all time?

Mike Mpofu

-

April 1, 2016

0

Is Joe Biden the greatest hype man of all time?

“Biden, the greatest hype man since Flavor Flav”.

That’s what a recent picture I came across on Facebook read.

And since my recent post on Barack Obama’s presidency caused a minor stir among some of my American friends, I thought I’d continue with the US presidency theme.

Just so we are all on the same page:

1. Joe Biden is the current Vice President of the United States of America – Obama’s second in command;

2. “Hype man” is a term originally adopted from hip-hop. It is used to describe the person or group that are on stage with the main performer. The hype man usually gets the crowd pumped before or as the show progresses. It has also been adopted to describe someone – usually a male friend – who has got your back. This guy usually “pumps you up” in front of everyone and makes sure that you look good.

Back to Joe Biden.

It took some serious convincing by Barack Obama to get Biden to accept the job. In fact, at first Biden told Obama he would never accept the job.

Obama asked him to sleep on it and did not relent in his offer, and Biden finally caved.

While the meme above is funny, it holds much truth. And it is safe to say Biden is not only the greatest hype man since Flavor Flav – but of all time.

Generally, there is a somewhat strange relationship between presidents and their deputies, in most parts of the world.

It is often held that the vice presidency is a ceremonial role where the president gets you to do everything he or she is not interested in: attending ceremonies; kissing babies; giving non-consequential speeches.

It is believed one really doesn’t wield much power in the VP’s office.

Biden – like Obama in the oval office – has changed the way his office is viewed.

The reason why Obama was determined to get Biden as his running mate is evident.

Biden, a seasoned Democrat, has served his constituency, Delaware, as a United States Senator from 1973 until becoming VP in 2009. What an outstanding record.

A recent interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert helps you understand why people love him. Biden makes it clear that his relationship with Barack Obama is different because they are a team. He supports Obama all the way, and explains that the “glue” that holds them together is their belief in America; their sheer determination to see the full potential of their nation realised. And this, he maintains, can become a reality – if people are willing to look at things from a different perspective, which is what Obama and Biden have done in their time in the White House.

I know there are those out there who believe the Obama administration has been a massive failure (please let me know why you think so), but Biden has stuck by Obama through every difficult period.

Biden has often described his admiration for Obama’s ability to make difficult decisions under immense pressure.

I am yet to see a vice president who genuinely backs his president without ulterior motives. And by that I mean, the intention to run for the highest office.

Biden, in the Late Show interview, explains that he has no intention of running for office. At the time of the interview, there had been widespread rumours that he was considering this. In fact, it was the dying wish of his late son Beau – who died of brain cancer last year – for Biden to run for the highest office. But Biden, it seems, is content with serving in his current role and no more.

He has made the role of vice president relevant. People don’t just see Biden as one who “fills in” for Obama, but they see him as part of the presidential team.

He has clout and informs decisions.

He advises and is taken seriously.

More importantly, he is a team player and a gentleman.

These terms are rarely used when describing politicians.

His example makes one wonder whether true “hype men” exist.

These are the kind of people who are there for you because… they are just there for you. No ulterior motives, no favours required; they are just your hype man.

Check out Biden’s Interview with Stephen Colbert:

Welcome to Guvna B’s Secret World

Mike Mpofu

-

March 29, 2016

0

The hip-hop scene has seen some decent artists emerge in recent times.

I refer specifically to hip-hop artists who are Christian and are not ashamed to publicly declare their faith.

Lecrae is one that comes to mind, among many other legends we grew up listening to.

One of the most recent stars who seems to be making waves, especially in the UK, is a young man called Guvna B.

Guvna – whose birth name is Isaac – is a Londoner of Ghanaian descent who spits bars for Jesus.

To date, he has built a decent brand with the trademark “Allo mate” in almost every song, video, or social media post. In fact, he even has a clothing line called “Allo mate”.

At 26, Guvna B has already released a substantial range of mixtapes and albums, including:

The Narrow Road (released 31 May 2008)

Scrapbook (released 1 January 2011 – This is when I feel in love with his music)

Next Ting 140 (released 18 August 2011)

Odd 1 Out (released 26 May 2013)

Scrapbook II (released 13th April 2014)

Secret World (released 20th November 2015)

His latest album, Secret World, is a great piece if work.

Guvna, originally from the East side of London, generally collaborates with a wide range of artists. Despite this, he tends to remain true to his “style”.

One of my favourite tracks on Secret World is Nothing But the Blood. Here he collaborates with Deitrick Haddon. They take the old school track you probably sang in Sunday School, and do it justice.

This is one my favourite hip-hop artists.

Add him to your playlist library and I promise you won’t regret it. It’s the kind of hip-hop that speaks about Jesus, without being corny. You can bump this as loud and proud as you want. Why not check out his music and follow him on the various platforms.

On the web: www.guvnab.com

On Twitter: www.twitter.com/guvnab

On Instagram: www.instagram.com/guvnab

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/GuvnaB

His YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/GuvnaMusic

On Tumblr: www.allomate.tumblr.com

Snapchat: GuvnaB

Here’s one of the videos from his album, Feel That Vibe

Going where no one else will

Mike Mpofu

-

March 25, 2016

0

On 22 March 2016, US president Barack Obama made history.

He became the first US president to visit Cuba, Havana, since 1928.

He was also the first US president to visit since Fidel Castro took over in 1959.

Just to bring this into context: Cuba is only 100 miles from the US state of Florida.

To bring you up to speed very simply: Relations between The US and Cuba have been strained since at least 1960 (-ish).

It all started around 1961, when the Americans didn’t agree with the way the Cubans, led by Castro, had been taking over private land and companies without compensation (i.e. illegally). The Americans imposed sanctions, and closed off most (if not all) trade relations with Cuba. At this stage, Cuba turned to the Russians for friendship – which further angered the Americans.

Since then, the US and Cuba have never spoken. They have not had any relationship, and in fact it was a big deal when Barack Obama shook the Cuban leader’s hand at Nelson Mandela’s memorial ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa. At the time, the world speculated whether the handshake from Mr Obama would lead to US-Cuban relations being restored. Those that speculated along these lines were not wrong.

When Obama addressed the Cubans in Havana a few days ago, he opened his speech with the following words: “In his most famous poem, Jose Marti made this offering of friendship and peace to both his friend and his enemy. Today, as the president of the United States of America, I offer the Cuban people el saludo de paz.”

The words “el saludo de paz” translate into “the greeting of peace”.

Since 1961, two nations only 100 miles from one another could not extend “the greeting of peace”.

It took one man – President Obama – to have the courage to go where no one else will, to change this for future generations to come.

But why is the mending of US-Cuba relations a big deal for any of us?

When Obama first announced he would be lifting some trade sanctions and would be commencing talks with Cuba, the world could not believe it. The US, extending the olive branch?

But in recent times this has taught me a massive lesson: sometimes strength is not displayed when we show our force and exert our dominance over others. Sometimes strength is shown when we are willing to build bridges.

What we don’t realise is that our inability to forgive/let go and extend the olive branch isn’t just about us, but generations to come.

Often we are holding the keys that other people need.

But we have to make the first move.

I believe – very strongly – that President Obama is the president we will all miss.

He is underrated.

In his time in office, one thing has been clear to me – strength isn’t the biggest dude in the room; strength looks like a handshake and a hug.

I wonder in what areas of our own personal lives we need to go where no one else will – to give generations to come a future they could never have obtained on their own…

Watch Obama’s historic address to the Cuban people below:

Why Twitter has survived a decade

Mike Mpofu

-

March 23, 2016

0

This week Twitter celebrated its 10th birthday.

It’s a massive achievement for any platform that has come after Facebook. After all, I think it’s safe to say Myspace can attribute its death to Zuckerberg’s genius experiment.

Back to Twitter.

Founded by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone, and Noah Glass, the platform has earned its place in the social media hall of fame.

It has changed communication. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, Twitter is actually “all things to all men”.

Let me explain: not many people think of Facebook and relate it to any form of “business platform”. When one mentions Instagram, people automatically associate it with pretty pictures and great filters. This is not entirely bad.

But Twitter, I believe, has not only survived 10 years, but has transcended both spaces – social and business.

People are more likely to use Twitter for all sorts of things, whereas other platforms are kept separate.

Entertainment, news reports, parody accounts, sport platforms, and movie stars – among other topics – enable users to engage on a wider range of issues in one “timeline”.

However, on Facebook, I can only have access to something or some features if we are “friends”.

I am what some might describe as an “early adopter”. This means when something like Twitter comes out, I have to try it. I joined Twitter in 2009 (yes, three years after its launch but still largely unpopular at the time). Back then, I wasn’t really sure what it was for, so I just kept people up to speed about my coffee adventures, my studies or whatever I thought was funny.

However, looking back at some of my earliest tweets, one thing is clear: my Twitter voice has changed and I have become comfortable in that space. And I believe this is what Twitter has done for a big group of 320 million users on the platform: it has given people their “voice”.

With only 140 characters at your disposal, you have to be careful with your words – but this helps. It forces you to get to the point in a way that is able to convey whatever you’re trying express.

It has been referred to as a “micro-blogging site”. This means there are 320 million would-be micro bloggers out there.

The flow of information and news tends to first “break” on Twitter before “trending” and going viral.

For me, and I know many others out there, it is the go-to place for any piece of information (after Google), without having to dig through a ridiculous amount of other details.

I strongly believe Twitter is yet to reach its full potential and give us the best service yet.

My only suggestion: do not compromise the rapid pace and flow of the service : 140 characters is all I need. And constantly changing timelines keep me at pace with the rest of the world.

Happy birthday, Twitter!

Oh, and I took a picture of the tweet that changed everything (the first tweet ever, from one of the founding members, Jack):

What a time to be alive!

Mike Mpofu

-

March 18, 2016

0

I recently had this thought while driving: It truly is an incredible time to be alive! For both good and undesirable reasons.

So much is going on in the world that seems so surreal – unbelievable. Pondering the events and news from all over the world, I realised we are actually part of a critical point in the history of humanity.

So I thought to put together a few key moments in recent times that justify the phrase: ‘What a time to be alive’. Here is my list:

1. The US presidential election

Whether you are a politics junkie or not, you know the name Donald Trump and you have probably come across Hillary Clinton at some stage in your life.

Why, you ask, is the US presidential election any of my business? The most powerful nation and economy in the world deserves your attention.

Ultimately, whether we appreciate it or not, the US dictates the world’s economic direction.

The US president – whoever it is at any given time – is referred to as the most powerful man (and possibly woman) in the world. That isn’t just a nice phrase – it’s true.

It is also critical to observe this process because the world may soon be led – heaven forbid – by billionaire and reality TV star Donald Trump.

What a time to be alive!

2. The South African political climate

Again, why is this relevant?

Similar to the US, South Africa is considered the most advanced African economy. One could argue that South Africa enjoys the same status as the US as a powerhouse, but in the context of Africa.

For those reading this from elsewhere, South Africa’s politics matters to Africa. As a leading African economy, whatever happens here sets the tone for other countries in many ways.

Currently, squabbles and various other political battles in the media and behind the scenes are creating the worst economic decline in post-democratic South Africa since 1994.

Why is this a bad thing?

Africa will have no one to look to for direction.

So far, the South African dream has been based on the “Mandela success story”. However it seems that every day, that dream is fading into the background while being undone by a unscrupulous few (according to public sentiment – just check social media).

As if this is not enough, FIFA, the body that governs world football, has recently declared that the 2010 World Cup took place because a bribe was paid (US$10 million) to host the tournament.

While South African authorities are refuting this claim, the evidence seems to be leaning in FIFA’s favour. We’ll have to wait and see where this FBI investigation leads.

3. Amazon wants us to pay using selfies

Yes, this is true. The multi-million dollar corporation is currently working on a proposal to make it easier for customers all over the world to pay using their faces – selfies.

Amazon are developing this because they argue it is much easier to be a victim of credit card fraud, no matter how secure the system claims to be. But if you have to pay with facial recognition technology, it is a bit more secure.

We are told that in some instances there may be certain instructions given to the customer – such as making a duck-face (a.k.a pouting) which will then allow you to process the payment. In other instances you may be asked to pull out your tongue or make any other expression or gesture with your face, just to pay.

I’m sure we can all agree, apart from being “secure”, it may actually be hilarious.

Imagine paying for fuel and having to pout into your phone before driving off – or having to do the same in a queue at the local supermarket.

What a time to be alive!

4. Justin Bieber endorsed

Yes, Bieber got the endorsement many can only dream of. Wait for it … Kanye West recently tweeted that Justin Bieber’s song What do you mean? was his favourite track of 2015.

Bieber merely took a screen shot of Kanye’s tweet and posted it on his Instagram.

This is a truly remarkable endorsement from the man who claims to be the “greatest rock star” of our time.

Bieber is currently on his Purpose World Tour, which seems to be going well.

Congrats to the Biebs and hopefully Kanye can finish mastering his latest album The Life of Pablo, which is already out!

Yeezy recently tweeted that he was on his way home from Paris and was excited to put the final touches on The Life of Pablo and his next season from the Adidas range. Hilarious! Who edits an album that people have already purchased!

What a time to be alive!

Wonder boy Wayde is one to watch

Mike Mpofu

-

March 15, 2016

0

Last weekend was pretty special for South Africa.

Cape Town born Wayde van Niekerk became the first man in history to achieve times under 10 seconds for the 100m sprint, under 20 seconds for the 200m, and under 44 seconds for the 400m.

Wayde’s achievement was confirmed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The latest record – a sub-10-second 100m sprint – was achieved on Saturday 12 March, in Bloemfontein, South Africa, which is also the City where he is currently studying.

The record also means that Wayde has qualified for the 100 m sprint in the Rio Olympics later this year – pretty impressive for a 23-year-old.

Wayde initially made his mark after winning the men’s 400m final at the IAAF Championship in Beijing last year.

If his current form is anything to go by, the Olympics should be very special to watch.

Congratulations to him – and it’s truly special for Africa.

I hope our friends in the fourth estate – the media – and other sectors of society give this the noise and attention it deserves.

Here are the three different times Wayde broke records, earning him this special place in history:

Wayde running a sub-10-second 100m in Bloemfontein:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq7pqlv3nso&feature=youtu.be

Wayde breaking the 200m record:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdGNGTakO8w&feature=youtu.be

Wayde winning the 400m men’s final at the IAAF Championships:

It’s not Trump I’m afraid of…

Mike Mpofu

-

March 11, 2016

0

I must admit, I did not think US presidential hopeful Donald Trump would come this far in his bid to occupy the White House.

I am probably not the only one who thought that.

Many of us were hoping that at some stage, Trump would put out a statement saying: “Just kidding, I don’t want to be president.”

That hasn’t happened. In fact, the opposite is true. His campaign seems to be growing stronger by the day.

Last week, during Super Tuesday – a day on which several states hold primary elections – Trump emerged victorious in the Republican (GOP) corner.

And if history is anything to go by, he will go on to be the next Republican presidential candidate. (In previous years, the candidate that wins on Super Tuesday, has gone on to be the presidential candidate for their respective parties).

While following the various tweets and reports on Trump’s growing success, it struck me: Trump could not have gone this far without people supporting and actually voting for him!

In simple language, it means there are people out there who actually think like Donald Trump.

There are people out there who believe building a wall to keep Mexicans out of America is a great idea. They also believe the Mexicans should pay for it.

There are actually people out there who make fun of people’s religious beliefs and see no problem with it.

There are people out there who, when Trump made fun of a journalist with a disability, did nothing but laugh at his unsavoury joke – effectively endorsing his view.

There are people out there who believe the only way to make “America great again” is taking up arms and invading foreign territory.

These people exist, and appear to be growing in number, emerging from the woodwork like they have been in hibernation, waiting for their “saviour”, Donald Trump.

It truly says something about our society if views such as the ones Trump holds have this much traction. What kind of men and women are we raising that endorse this manner of life?

Perhaps we shouldn’t just be concerned about Trump alone, but the masses who support him, throwing their financial resources behind him – all the way to the White House.

The question that remains is how will America respond?

Can Trump actually make it all the way to the White House? And if he does, surely the Americans would have to ask themselves: how did we get here?

I truly hope the Republicans do not endorse his effort, and that the world reaches its senses sooner than later.

Trump can only take us back and nowhere else.

What are your views on the American presidential race? Share them with us in the comments section.

Is music an elitist privilege?

Mike Mpofu

-

March 8, 2016

1

Let me qualify the above question:

I recently attempted to listen to an album that had just been released.

For new music, my first point of reference is iTunes. However, this time my search yielded no results.

I then looked to Soundcloud, which only offered me the really old albums and singles by this particular artist. And if you’re in Africa, I guess your next port of call is YouTube, which I did – nothing!

I decided to run a Google search on why I couldn’t access this piece of work – and there was my answer. Firstly, it was only available in certain parts of the world (in other words not in Africa) and on certain application (app) platforms, which were – you guessed it – not available in Africa.

I suppose my issue here is not necessarily the price of certain music alone but, quite critically, the access to music.

The general trend in the music industry (as with film), is that an album will “drop” in the US, for example in New York, on a certain date. Which is great if you’re in that part of the world. However, if you’re in a less “prioritised” part of the world, such as South Africa, you can only experience this a week or two later, if this album is available on your platform, such as iTunes.

It boggles the mind that something like Spotify is not available in South Africa – unless I create another iTunes account, with a fake address, in order to download it. This means I also have to keep switching between two accounts to obtain it.

In addition to some of these exclusive Apps, in the event that one acquires the App or access to the platform, the issue of pricing comes into question.

I recently download the much spoken about Tidal app – launched last year by Jay Z alongside other prominent celebrities – for “free”. You would obviously have to pay a monthly subscription to stream whatever music you want.

I understand music is also a business. Any business, in order to survive, has to make a profit. I understand this.

But here is my struggle:

When Jay Z and his Tidal crew – including Kanye and Rhianna – announced the platform, they said that it was all about allowing artists to take control of their product. In simple language, the middleman was taking a bit too much, and so this time, whatever the artists put out on Tidal would see a bigger chunk of the profit go to the artist.

This makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is that when they launched Tidal, they alienated a massive following of people in other countries, especially in Africa, for a very long time.

This means that they reduced their market while increasing the price of the product – fewer people paying more money for the same product.

I’m sure Tidal is profitable (I cannot confirm or argue against this, without evidence). But I know from experience it has made gaining access to some of the artists I enjoy, legally, more difficult.

Which is often the catch-22 with some of the laws we have in place.

Sometimes, the unintended consequence of some of the rules and laws we create is that it actually becomes easier to break the law and get away with it, rather than to adhere to the rules and enjoy whatever the benefit may be.

The reality is that if artists want the exposure they desire, they need to change the way they see music distribution.

We are not saying we want to be given the music for free – we are arguing that it should be easier for us to get hold of it.

That way, far more people can enjoy your work. Hopefully this would in turn yield a profit, which would help you deal with the greedy middleman.

Surely, with the growth of the digital era, music should be one of those things that are not limited by borders. Or, perhaps I am missing something in this debate?

Dear artists, take the third world with you.

The Apple dilemma: Privacy or safety?

Mike Mpofu

-

March 2, 2016

0

If you’re a techie, you would have been following the current unfolding privacy saga in the United States.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is defending his company’s decision not to unlock an iPhone 5c which belonged to a now deceased terrorist, on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and, by extension, the US government.

Just to bring you up to speed if you haven’t followed the case:

In December last year, a heavily armed couple killed 14 people and wounded at least 17 in a shooting in the US city of San Bernardino, California. The male shooter was identified as Syed Rizwan Farook.

To cut a long story short, Mr Farook’s phone has been seized by the FBI. However, like most iPhones, it has a passcode – and now the FBI has gone to court to force Apple to unlock the phone. They believe the phone may contain information about the shootings and other possible terrorist plans.

And now, the dilemma: Apple CEO Tim Cook has basically refused to do so. He argues that it isn’t just about the current request – instead, it’s about what similar requests come come in future.

That I understand. Where does one draw the line?

I am quite conflicted on this, however. Conflicted enough to have run a Twitter poll on the matter! (Because that’s how you decide on very important real life matters.)

At the time of writing this, the Twitter Poll has been running for 47 minutes, with 16 votes. The poll stands at 62% of votes arguing that Apple shouldn’t unlock the phone, as it sets a bad precedent. On the other hand, 38% of respondents feel it’s the right thing to do.

There have been some convincing arguments on both sides.

One of the most notable characters to weigh in on this one has been Microsoft Founder Bill Gates. This week, Gates came out calling for Cook to comply with the US government’s request. While he made it clear that he believed in protecting the right to privacy, he also said the following: “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. It is no different than [the question of] should anybody ever have been able to tell the phone company to get information, should anybody be able to get at bank records. Let’s say the bank had tied a ribbon round the disk drive and said ‘don’t make me cut this ribbon because you’ll make me cut it many times’”.

I understand what Gates is saying: it is a once-off request and not one that allows the gates (excuse the pun) to stay open indefinitely.

But the other side of the argument is just as compelling. Today the FBI asks for the code, tomorrow they’ll ask for more, and more and more. And because there is a set precedent, especially by a court of law, it becomes harder to determine what is in the interest of safety and what constitutes a violation of customer privacy.

I’m also not sure how many smartphone users would be comfortable with the idea that the FBI or any other entity can request to break into their phone at their convenience.

There is one other aspect to this dilemma: Mr Farook is dead.

Does this change things? Because a dead person cannot have a right to privacy? Or do they?

I’ll let you decide.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Share them below.

Mike Mpofu

Connect with us