Fingerprints are not protected under the fifth amendment - Police can force you to unlock your phone with your fingerprint, but not your password

I saw this on /r/TIL and figured it could be a useful PSA for people on DNMs in case of trouble. So obviously, this is a repost!

http://time.com/3558936/fingerprint


Comments


[41 Points] None:

No disrespect intended to the OP but people are in jail as we speak in America for not giving up passwords.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/04/29/fifth-amendment-battle-former-police-officer-has-been-locked-in-solitary-confinement-for-7-months-after-not-handing-over-his-passwords/


[15 Points] JasonLeeH:

I've been saying this over on /r/Android for almost a year now. I keep getting downvoted though and fellow Redtitors keep calling me paranoid.


[8 Points] darlantan:

The 5th amendment (like the constitution as a whole) has been tortured all to hell and back. Technically, with a warrant, the cops can compel you to decrypt/unlock pretty much anything electronic or lock your ass up in contempt for...well, as long as they care to.

Unless your decryption presents them with a ton of stuff in the clear that isn't incriminating, you're pretty much hosed. If you've got to keep incriminating records, keep them in a method that you can destroy quickly and without a trace, or in a method that can be "unlocked" to provide nothing of value. Encrypted volumes employing select files using steganography to hide data that has in turn been encrypted might work if the steganographic method doesn't leave definite tells. At that point it should be indistinguishable from random data that "belongs" in the file it is part of, and it'd be a very hard case to sell to a jury that it was otherwise.


[5 Points] None:

It's not enough that they want to control what we put in our own bodies. Oh no, they own our bodies as well. Fucking stupid.


[4 Points] None:

You aren't refusing to give up your password... YOU CAN'T REMEMBER IT and want a lawyer and badge number. They are using text and drive laws to try to force you to let them search your phone. Always remember the less you say the better and not remembering password is NEVER going to be a crime.


[3 Points] None:

[deleted]


[3 Points] lenut:

Maybe this is why my note 4 started requiring my backup password after being turned off before i can use my finger print. Check mate -Samsung


[1 Points] chris_8250:

So.... Swipe a finger that isnt registered until it requires a passcode.


[1 Points] ucriminal:

If you use finger print.. you're just lazy.

Finger Print as security device is most dumbest thing ever for security.

You locked phone can be access when you're asleep. Even people who don't know shit about security can figure it out.


[1 Points] draginator:

That's why I have 9 of my fingers programed to restart my phone which then requires a passcode to open.


[-1 Points] None:

Glad I have not upgraded to those versions yet...boo-yah!