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Washington Post Raid Is a Frightening Reminder: Turn Off Your Phone’s Biometrics Now
(theintercept.com)
this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2026
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Privacy
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that's precisely why i never stopped using a password to access my phone.
You actually type “hunter2” in every time you want to unlock?
Why did you type *******? You could just type a made up pass to use as the example, like "hunter2"
These days it has to be something like 1Hunt3r2!l} because enhanced security.
Instead of using your face or fingerprint to unlock it they could demand that you just type the password, could they not?
"I don't recall."
Good question. In the U.S. It violates your fifth amendment right not to testif against yourself/self-incriminate... unless a person doesn't know that and voluntarily unlocks it.
From a legal perspective, no. Passwords would be a 5th amendment issue.
Nope, believe it or not, that's treated entirely differently. Considered to be covered by the 5th amendment since you would be required to provide information that could be self-incriminating.
No.
There is no search warrant for the contents of your mind.
Of course "rubber hose decrypt" is always an option, but we're not quite there yet.
I really think we are.
Aren't we?
I believe it gets a bit trickier because you can use your right to remain silent? They also can’t physically force you to speak the password but they can restrain you and unlock your phone by force.