Trump Calls For Apple Boycott Over FBI Row

Donald Trump has called for a boycott of Apple products until the tech giant agrees to FBI demands to unlock a terrorist's iPhone.

Speaking at a rally in South Carolina, the Republican presidential candidate said Apple should help the US government in gathering information from a device owned by one of the killers involved in the San Bernardino shootings.

However, moments after demanding the boycott - Trump, or possibly an aide - began writing messages on Twitter... using the social media site's iPhone app.

Despite this faux pas, his spokeswoman insisted the businessman does not use an iPhone.

But a short time later, Trump admitted he did own an iPhone - and vowed to rely on Samsung until Apple decides to co-operate.

It could be quite a contradictory move for the Republican frontrunner.

Recently, he urged Apple to begin making more products in the US - but in opting for a Samsung device, he would be supporting South Korea's economy.

On Friday, the Department of Justice filed a motion seeking to compel Apple to comply with a judge's order to unlock the iPhone belonging to Syed Farook - who killed 14 people and wounded 21 during a rampage in California with his wife last December.

The FBI has had the smartphone since the shooting, but has only 10 guesses of the passcode before the device's data is wiped.

Law enforcement officials say lives could be at risk if information from the iPhone is not obtained.

Apple's CEO Tim Cook said his company would refuse to "hack our own users and undermine decades of security advancements that protect our customers".

Prosecutors have described this lack of co-operation as a "marketing strategy" but other major tech companies have backed Apple's stance.

A hearing will take place in California on 22 March.