Biometric unlocking of phones, while convenient, could grant police access to your digital life. A recent ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California found that highway officers acted lawfully when they forcibly unlocked a suspect’s phone using their fingerprint. The ruling did not violate the suspect’s 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination or the 4th Amendment’s protections against unlawful search and seizure. This case highlights the unsettled arguments surrounding the 5th Amendment and biometrics. User, especially those who are likely to interact with law enforcement should consider turning off biometrics on their phones entirely.
The ruling was complicated by the fact that the suspect was on parole at the time and had agreed to provide a passcode to his devices as part of his parole agreement.
Read more at: gizmodo.com