FBI stymied by Apple’s Lockdown Mode after seizing journalist’s iPhone

Post reporter was compelled to unlock MacBook Pro with fingerprint, however.

See full article...

 

[citizencoyote]

I don't get how courts have ruled biometrics could be compelled, but passwords not. But here we are, I hope journalists and others who are targets use strong passwords

Not a lawyer and the language may not be correct, but I believe it boils down to your fingerprints (and face for that matter) are "publicly accessible," while something like a password or PIN is private knowledge.

 

[citizencoyote]

“Natanson’s personal MacBook Pro was powered off when it was found by FBI agents.“

“The FBI said an agent “presented Natanson with her open laptop” and “assisted” her in unlocking the device with her finger.”

“The FBI apparently hasn’t gotten any data from Natanson’s personal computer. “Natanson’s personal MacBook Pro is password protected and encrypted”

I’m a little confused here. The cops did not get into her iPhone because it was powered off and you have to enter the password for the first unlock. Ditto with her personal MAC but they did get into her work computer by compelling her to use her finger. I was having trouble figuring out which laptop was which in that paragraph.

Excuse me while I disable biometrics on my MAC. I already do that on my phone but it never occurred to me to do it on my MAC as well.

Her work laptop is the one they were able to access via her "assistance." I assume it was on but maybe asleep or something. Her personal laptop was powered off and had no biometrics and her iPhone was in lockdown mode, so they had no way of accessing those.