The government wants your fingerprint to unlock your phone. Should that be allowed?

L A Times ^ | By Matt Hamilton and Richard Winton

[BenLurkin]

s the world watched the FBI spar with Apple this winter in an attempt to hack into a San Bernardino shooter's iPhone, federal officials were quietly waging a different encryption battle in a Los Angeles courtroom.

There, authorities obtained a search warrant compelling the girlfriend of an alleged Armenian gang member to press her finger against an iPhone that had been seized from a Glendale home. The phone contained Apple's fingerprint identification system for unlocking, and prosecutors wanted access to the data inside it.

It marked a rare time that prosecutors have demanded a person provide a fingerprint to open a computer, but experts expect such cases to become more common as cracking digital security becomes a larger part of law enforcement work.

...

The issue partly revolves around the prevailing legal stance toward fingerprints.

Law enforcement routinely obtains search warrants to examine property or monitor telecommunications, even swab inside an inmate's mouth for DNA. But fingerprints have long remained in the class of evidence that doesn't require a warrant, along with providing handwriting samples or standing in a lineup. Courts have categorized fingerprints as "real or physical evidence" sourced from the body, unlike communications or knowledge, which cannot be compelled without violating the 5th Amendment.

[Chgogal]

I'll buy the iPone that requires a retina scan. I guess the Feds will want my eyeball.

[ctdonath2]

The iPhone finger reader is very good. Angle doesn’t matter, it’s very fast, and at worst takes a couple repeat touches to engage. It doesn’t read the print per se, it reads other structures deeper in the finger. People only understand “fingerprints” in the context, so that’s the term used.

[Squeako]

The problem for the authorities in this case is that after a very short amount of time or if the power is cycled, the phone will require the code to be entered manually. So she can press her finger down as much as she wants but it will be of no value. I felt a lot better about iPhone security when I learned that.

[Defiant]

In addition, the sensor can’t be used after a restart, only the pin code. So, anyone who doesn’t want cops forcing them to unlock their phone with a finger just needs to shut it off first. Some courts say the 5th amendment protects the code, but does not prohibit forcing you to unlock with a finger. Stupid, right?

[BlueLancer]

Thanks for the explanation ...

I really don't have a clue about iPhones. The only two phones that I own is my house landline and a flip-phone without even a camera on it.

[InfraRed]

A dead finger won’t work for the iPhone print reader.

There are many hacks for the iPhone biometrics on YouTube. Personally, I have no iPhone for testing purposes, but it appears that the original finger isn't needed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baio0qUj2Lk

Many more here:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fingerprint+hack

[Not gonna take it anymore]

My iPhone is set up so that first I have to input the password and then the fingerprint.

Just turn the damn thing off if need be.

[Graybeard58]

Not without a warrant!

************************************************************

Your bio says, “U.S. Navy, ‘61-’64.

The U.S. Gov. already has your prints.

[JimRed]

Your bio says, “U.S. Navy, ‘61-’64.

The U.S. Gov. already has your prints.

Also, (local) bartender ID card, (state) real estate agent licensing application, broker licensing application, (feds) a civil service test application from back in the 70s...

But I will refuse to finger my phone for them!

[JoeFromSidney]

Using a fingerprint as a passcode provides an incentive for someone to cut off your finger, and possibly to kill you so you won't object.