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The fingerprint on the iPhone is actually just a shortcut to input all four digits of a passcode (watch the process) so how does that work?
 
They can have my fingerprint all they want from a court order, but the only thing they will get it on is an official government print card. Otherwise, they better start lifting prints elsewhere and learn how to make it usable for the iPhone.
 
I might be worthwhile for Apple to provide an option for a 2 factor device unlock process for those extremely concerned about security/privacy. For example, the standard passcode on reboot must be a complex passcode and thereafter you must dual authenticate using both Touch ID and a simple passcode.

This isn't a bad idea, but what if touch ID fails? Some people could possibly accidentally cut or slightly burn a finger.
 
What the police have and what is stored on your iPhone through the finger sensor/imaging I don't believe are the same things.

The police does not have a multi dermal layer skin reading that is used to create a code. The police have an ink impression on the ridges of the outer layer of the skin on your finger.

This is like saying they have your hat which holds your head so you have to divulge all of what is inside your head and you don't have a right to remain silent because after all, they have your hat.

Police, knock this baloney off. They should be going out of their way to preserve and stand up for our rights and freedoms, instead they push the limits as often as they can.

I don't think you understand; they are not talking about using fingerprints but your actual finger. The judge is just being consistent. They can get warrants to have your blood drawn for say DUI/DWI cases or your DNA taken in rape cases. They can't use a warrant to force you to divulge information in your head, that would be considered self incrimination.

The police ARE standing up for our rights and freedoms by tracking down and punishing those who take our rights and freedoms. They are trying to confirm or get additional evidence against a man who allegedly killed a woman - thereby taking away HER rights and freedoms.

There is a delicate balancing act the police have to follow to catch criminals and protect citizens and it is not a perfect system but it is better than what else is out there.
 
Funny world...

How about the cop in LA who would take female DUI/DWI suspects phones and while they're in custody search their phones for naked selfies and then download them to his phone and share them with other officers. Dumb ass was stupid enough to send them to his own phone without wiping out the text log on the girls phone and one woman noticed and filed charges against him. They are talking about charging him with felony computer theft among other things. He's on administrative desk duty until the case is over. Just like there are some stupid people there are also some stupid cops.
 
The difference is this:

Your fingerprint is on your finger.

Your passcode is in your brain.

They can't force you to speak. "You have the right to remain silent"

They can however force you to give blood, hair samples, fingerprints as long as they have a warrant. Blood, hair samples, fingerprints and other stuff can not testify.

Also you seem to be confused on the warrant part in regards to this story.

This story is not about warrant-less searches. The state went to the judge to ask for a warrant to compel the defendant to unlock the phone with his finger. The defendants lawyers attempted to squash the warrant because obviously they do not want the state getting pictures or video off the defendants phone. The judge ruled on the warrant and granted it to the state.

So a warrant is involved and the state got it. It probably won't do any good since it's probably been more then 48 hours and you need a pass-code with which the defendant can now not give them since that would be forcing him to testify against himself.

So anything that's physical is subject to the 4th Amendment requiring a warrant. Everything in your mind however is covered under the 5th Amendment and they can't force you to divulge it and testify against yourself.

So the best thing to do is use a pass-code on your phone at all times or stall and delay for at least 48 hours or shut the phone off and reboot.

Of course the absolute best thing to do if one is inclined to be a criminal is to not record your criminal activities on your phone in the first place.

Ah, yes. I understand. So the judge's reasoning is this: unlocking your phone is a search, which is governed by the same rules as a search of your home.
 
This isn't a bad idea, but what if touch ID fails? Some people could possibly accidentally cut or slightly burn a finger.
Currently while you can use Touch ID for most things, you still need a passcode, which can be a simple passcode, on reboot or after too many Touch ID attempts and the passcode can also be used directly to unlock even if the Touch ID is setup. I'm just suggesting Apple offer an enhanced security option where any situation that previously required just a Touch ID would require a Touch ID + simple passcode and any situation that previously required a passcode would require that passcode by a complex passcode. That complex passcode can always supersede the Touch ID + simple passcode. For convenience the simple passcode could be derived from the complex passcode, for example, be the first four digits.
 
When I was I kid I had this condition in which I used to eat the skin off of my fingers, called Dermatophagia. There's aways that. :)
 
Everything the judge did is within the bounds of the Constitution.

Your fingerprints have never been considered to be something that could cause you to testify against yourself. Neither has your blood, DNA, or hair or anything else that you can produce upon receipt of a valid warrant from a court.

I would suggest that it is you that needs to read the Constitution along with accepted case law in this country. No it's not perfect, your slavery example shows that, but it works well enough.

In this case the state wanted the defendant to use his finger to unlock his iPhone. The state went to the court and asked the judge for a warrant to accomplish this. The defendant claimed the state had no right to do this as it would violate his 5th Amendment rights against testifying against himself. The judge correctly said that fingerprints are not covered by the 5th Amendment as your fingerprints can not cause you to testify against yourself. The judge correctly said that the fingerprint issue is covered under the 4th Amendment and the state was granted the warrant for the defendant to unlock the phone with his finger. It is not unreasonable of the state to seek out a warrant to compel a defendant to provide access to the iPhone.

However the judge threw in one caveat. An important one. That is the state can ask the defendant to open the phone using his finger as that is no different then the state asking for the key to the defendants house BUT if the iPhone was locked with a pass-code the state could not get a warrant because at that point the pass-code would be covered under the 5th Amendment and you could not compel the defendant to speak.

So for those who like you seem to border on paranoid mass-hysteria at every little court ruling because you don't understand the Constitution or case law simply turn off the fingerprint sensor on your phone or turn it off/on or stall the police for 48 hours or just don't put anything incriminating on your phone.

Or even better don't take your phone with you to the crime scene since the police will get a warrant for your cell phone with the cell phone companies since you are being tracked by the cell phone towers. Use a burner phone.

But in his case, the fingerprint itself does not tie him in with the attack....it enables the police to then view other information. That will be what the appeals court hangs on to to overturn this decision.

In the meantime, all someone needs to do is to us the wrong finger a few times and then it will require a passcode...or just reboot the phone and a passcode will be required. Besides, most criminals use Android phones ;)
 
The courts are a joke

I notice that the courts side a majority of the time with gov't or police power over people. The courts are nothing but a rubber stamp for whatever the cops or other branches of govt want to do. So I dont care what the courts say anymore. They are not the final authority anyhow. We are.
 
Will not be held on appeal.

This is not a Fifth Amendment issue, this is a Fourth Amendment issue, To whit:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, ..."

You iPhone and its contents are you effects. It is not the lock on your front door of your house that the Constitution protects, it is the contents.

Damn party hack judges!
 
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I think it can be successfully argued that a fingerprint used for Touch ID is the equivalent to a security passcode.
 
I notice that the courts side a majority of the time with gov't or police power over people. The courts are nothing but a rubber stamp for whatever the cops or other branches of govt want to do. So I dont care what the courts say anymore. They are not the final authority anyhow. We are.

This is a single state court dude. It has no authority outside of that area of Virginia.

The Fourth Amendment doesn't ban the police from searches, BTW. It just says they need probable cause for warrants. It doesn't actually say they need warrants though, weirdly.
 
you like most of the others in this topic talk like police are stupid when it comes to unlocking your iPhone. If your thumb isn't it on first try they are going to go into "red alert". You think your going to get ten attempts to get it wrong. ha good luck with that. They'll get you on the 3rd

Anyway what a hassle. Touch ID is meant to make life easier not harder. Get a change in the law not your habits

Just toying with you. Like most people on here, I'd just unlock it for them - I have nothing to hide anyway.
 
Just toying with you. Like most people on here, I'd just unlock it for them - I have nothing to hide anyway.
Info from your phone can potentially be turned against you, for example, if it contradicts your earlier statement - lying to the police will get you in trouble.
 
Info from your phone can potentially be turned against you, for example, if it contradicts your earlier statement - lying to the police will get you in trouble.

That's only if you lie to them in the first place. As I said, I have nothing to hide and this is all hypothetical as no crime has been committed.
 
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