Virginia judge: Police can demand a suspect unlock a phone with a fingerprint

But passcodes need not be divulged as per the Fifth Amendment, court says.

Read the whole story

 

[rmcrowley2000]

The judge agreed with Baust, though he noted in his written opinion that “giving police a fingerprint is akin to providing a DNA or handwriting sample or an actual key, which the law permits,” the Virginian Pilot reports. “A passcode, though, requires the defendant to divulge knowledge, which the law protects against.”

Does this leave a loophole that someone could comply by providing their fingerprint n another form, such as a fingerprint scan or ink copy?

Also, for the "or an actual key" part of that quote, does that mean an office could force you to provide a kiey to your house without a warrant? That seems a bit counter intuitive....