Apple is at the center of yet another heated debate over iPhone data encryption as it continues to do a tricky balancing act between protecting user privacy and helping US law enforcement easily obtain information on persons of interest involved in high-profile crimes, but the company reportedly considered a shift in its policy not that long ago which would have made its stance crystal clear once and for all.

The FBI convinced Apple to drop end-to-end encryption

Of course, Apple didn’t actually need permission from the Federal Bureau or any US government agencies at all to revise its policies and mechanisms of keeping user data under lock and key. In fact, it’s not clear why the company discussed its secret plans with the FBI, but that almost certainly happened, and predictably enough, the Bureau’s cyber crime-fighting and operational technology divisions were opposed to the idea, arguing it would deny them the “most effective means for gaining evidence against iPhone-using suspects.”

That argument and the fear public officials would go for Apple’s jugular for protecting criminals ultimately killed the plan, which would have made it impossible for the company to access its customers’ cloud-hoarded data. Furthermore, the risk of getting sued by the government for moving previously accessible data out of reach may have also played a key role in Apple’s decision to not “poke the bear anymore.”

Imagine Donald Trump’s anger had Apple decided to do this

The very fact Apple consulted with the Bureau’s cyber crime and tech experts before adopting end-to-end iCloud encryption proves the company “gets along with the federal government” just fine, which makes President Trump’s recent Twitter tirade feel completely out of line.