Good news.
Law enforcement officials can’t force smartphone users to unlock their devices using fingerprints or other biometric features such as facial recognition, according to a Northern California court ruling from last week.
The ruling, which was shared this morning by Forbes, was the result of an Oakland investigation into possible extortion. Police officers asked the court for permission to seize multiple devices and then compel the suspects to unlock the devices using biometric authentication.The court said that there was indeed probable cause to grant a search warrant, but that it was denied because the request to force the suspects to unlock their devices using biometric authentication “funs afoul of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.” From the ruling:
The Government, however, also seeks the authority to compel any individual present at the time of the search to press a finger (including a thumb) or utilize other biometric features, such as facial or iris recognition, for the purposes of unlocking the digital devices found in order to permit a search of the contents as authorized by the search warrant.
For the reasons set forth below, the Court finds that the Government’s request funs afoul of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments and the search warrant application must be DENIED.
Police Can’t Force You to Unlock an iPhone Using Face ID or Touch ID, California Judge Rules
Law enforcement officials can’t force smartphone users to unlock their devices using fingerprints or other biometric features such as facial recognition, according to a Northern California court ruling from last week. The ruling, which was shared this morning by , was the result of an Oakland investigation into possible extortion.