SAN FRANCISCO (REUTERS) - Social network operator Facebook Inc on Thursday (Feb 18) came out in support of Apple Inc's decision to oppose a court ruling that ordered it to help the FBI break into the iPhone of a California shooter.

"We will continue to fight aggressively against requirements for companies to weaken the security of their systems. These demands would create a chilling precedent and obstruct companies' efforts to secure their products," a Facebook representative said.

The iPhone was recovered from a San Bernardino shooter and the issue has heightened the dispute between tech companies and law enforcement over the limits of encryption.