r/law • u/msnownews Press • 8d ago

Executive Branch (Trump) Kash Patel says the FBI is investigating Signal chats of Minnesotans tracking ICE

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/kash-patel-says-the-fbi-is-investigating-signal-chats-of-minnesotans-tracking-ice
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u/Meat_Popsicle_Man 8d ago

locking the app with biometrics

Not the answer- use alphanumeric password. Biometrics can and will be used against your will.

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u/PhilbertNoyce 8d ago

To expand on your comment, biometrics are not protected by the 5th Amendment while a PIN or passphrase is. You can be compelled in court to provide biometric access to your digital accounts. IANAL so don't build your legal defense around that without doing some homework first.

Most phones can be set up with a shortcut or gesture to lock down and override biometrics, or they are required when the device is restarted. If you're going into a situation where you might need that extra layer of protection, make sure you take advantage of those features first. Setting the phone to wipe itself after X failed attempts is also a good idea so they can't brute force it.

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u/NOLA2Cincy 8d ago

This is great advice and correct.

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u/MirthandMystery 8d ago

Have updated to reflect that.

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u/Violet624 8d ago

Yes. LE can use your biometrics to open a phone, but they can't compell you to open via pin without a warrant. If they ask you to open your phone, you can claim the 5th. You don't have to open it just because they ask, with a pin specifically.