Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

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Cops can force suspect to unlock phone with thumbprint, US court rules (arstechnica.com)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

121 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The legal situation is more complex and nuanced than the headline implies, so the article is worth reading. This adds another ruling to the confusing case history regarding forced biometric unlocking.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It’ll be interesting to see if it applies to facial recognition. In iOS, at least, you need to look at the phone to unlock it. That’s an intentional action. If you look to the side or close your eyes, it won’t work.

So if you’re conscious, you can’t easily be forced to unlock the phone with your face and eyes if you’re able to resist. But if you’re unconscious, then maybe they could use your face (assuming your eyes aren’t rolled back into your head because the cops gave you brain damage.)

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

But you can be easily tricked. Even easier than with the fingerprint.

"Hey, can you look at those pictures?", shows some printed out pictures with the phone hiding behind and then quickly just dropping the pictures.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

then quickly just dropping the pictures

Could even poke a camera-sized hole in the picture. And disguise it by putting that hole over something similarly-coloured.

But anyway, but of it is really that you can be held in contempt for refusing to unlock with biometrics, if they've got an appropriate warrant.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Probably a "have a look at this" and the 2 seconds before you realize that you are currently unlocking your phone, would be enough.