Wired:
> “Big picture, a warrant is required for the search of a device except in certain circumstances at the border,” says Greg Nojeim, director of the Freedom, Security and Technology Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology. In the newly reported Face ID case, police did have a warrant to compel 28-year-old Grant Michalski of Ohio to unlock his smartphone, and Michalski has gone on to face child pornography charges.
And:
> “There might be less intrusion and physical coercion with forcing a faceprint versus a fingerprint.”
This is an important test case and precedent and this Wired article is an interesting read.
In related news, in New Zealand, Travellers refusing to hand over phone password at airport now face $5000 Customs fine. That’s one way to get folks to hand over the keys.
And finally, here’s how to disable Face ID:
FaceID is way too useful to disable. I prefer to not view or posses child porn instead.
I’m torn on the search issue though. I suppose if there has to be a warrant, that’s enough of a safeguard. At least it protects my phone from search and seizure as much as any of my other assets.
Precisely. The odds that any of us will be subject to this are infinitesimal. It’s still important law to resolve as biometrics seem to be a rising security trend, but in practice it’s not going to matter to the vast majority of iOS users.
Also, the stated method of disabling FaceID above works but takes 3 seconds and if you’re in an arrest situation (“put your hands where I can see them and don’t move” kind) the last thing you want to do is reach in your pocket for your phone.