Re:Google Announces Pixel 4
by dkonofalski on Tuesday October 15, 2019 @12:32PM
(#21260342)
This is just flat-out wrong. Police can absolutely compel you to use your fingerprint on the device if they have a warrant which is exactly what happened in the Face ID context in that article. Any type of biometric identification can be compelled via warrant. Passcodes, on the other hand, cannot because that would violate the search and seizure clause of the Constitution.
And, in either case, that doesn't really matter as Face ID/Touch ID can both be disabled by tapping the power button on every iPhone. In terms of security for that specific case, they're both equally secure. Face ID, however, has a much lower rate of false positives than Touch ID (with the notable exception being twins).
If you have reason to be concerned about security or police for any reason then all biometric stuff should be disabled. The answer is neither when it comes to privacy.
In the real world typing your password a million times is a pain in the ass.
>but they can't compel you to use your fingerprint on the device.
Are you sure? Because I've read the completely opposite and that the only thing that the cops can't force you to do is enter your password.
Even cops can use it to unlock your phone without permission legally[1], but they can't compel you to use your fingerprint on the device.
Of course if you really care about security you won't use either. Historically single factor biometric sensors have historically proven to be weak indicators of identity.
[1]: https://www.wired.com/story/police-unlock-iphone-face-id-leg...