You don’t even have to turn it off. This is why lockdown mode exists.
Comment on Suspects can refuse to provide phone passcodes to police, court rules
logicbomb@lemmy.world 11 months ago
This is a complicated situation, but in my opinion, probably the correct decision.
Given this is the ruling, if you do believe your phone is about to be confiscated, and you don’t want its contents to be public, it might be a good idea to turn off your phone. Although the police cannot compel a password, a biometric unlock is not a password. If you turn off your phone, it will generally require a password to enable biometric unlock.
helenslunch@feddit.nl 11 months ago
StorageAware@lemmings.world 11 months ago
Not all phones have it I believe. For example, OnePlus just removed one day with an update when they switched to using a ColorOS skin.
Brkdncr@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Most phones have a way to use a button sequence force the next lock to require a PIN code. iPhone is just hitting the side button 5x for instance.
bdonvr@thelemmy.club 11 months ago
On iPhone, tap the power button five times quickly
phoneymouse@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Or squeeze volume up button and power button. Encrypts your data and requires passcode unlock. Also, set a long passcode like 10 digits. 4 can be cracked in minutes. 6 can be cracked in a few hours.
Infernal_pizza@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Don’t hold them down for too long though or it automatically calls the emergency services!
sorghum@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
It’s not complicated at all. The constitution guarantees the right that no one be compelled to testify against themselves.
thesmokingman@programming.dev 11 months ago
It is complicated in the US because of biometrics and the wide use of contempt citations. If you “forget” your password, you can be held in contempt and jailed for up to 18 months (I missed that; last I knew it was indefinite). Biometrics and other “something you are” items can be forcibly taken (eg your fingerprints or retinal scans) with full legal backing. Your perspective, while laudable, only exists in the potential future orgs like the EFF and ACLU are fighting to create. It is very wrong today.
AdamEatsAss@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I don’t understand the USA law that well, probably not a good thing because I’ve lived here my whole life, but don’t the Miranda rights say “you have the right to remain silent” and the 5th amendment says you have the right to not answer any questions that would self incriminate yourself? The police can’t legally compell a private citizen to tell them a phone passcode or anything and I think any defense lawyer would immediately call out a judge who posed the threat of contemp over this.
thesmokingman@programming.dev 11 months ago
IANAL. I recommend you start with the link I shared and the OP article which has a massive number of links to related cases (included the one I shared). The basics, as I understand them, is that being compelled to share a password and being compelled to give details of a crime you committed are viewed differently by the law.