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Cops can force suspect to unlock phone with thumbprint, US court rules(arstechnica.com)

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TaviRider@reddthat.com
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privacy@lemmy.ml
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The legal situation is more complex and nuanced than the headline implies, so the article is worth reading. This adds another ruling to the confusing case history regarding forced biometric unlocking.

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jose1324@lemmy.world
19 points

Basically every Android also has a variation of this

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admiralteal@kbin.social
5 points

Absent an idiotic carrier/mfg skin that disables the feature, you just long-press power then click “lockdown”.

Or reboot the device. Rebooting the device will also leave it encrypted if your device has encryption (the PIN/password is needed to decrypt, essentially).

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BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
3 points

Nope.

Samsung A50 doesn’t have this option.

Will keep an eye out for it though.

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Fallenwout@lemmy.world
1 point

You need to enable it. “show lockdown option”

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SqueakyBeaver@lemmy.blahaj.zone
2 points
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My Samsung A11 (android 12) has a “lockdown” option when you held the power button. It would turn off all biometrics and hide notifications. You may have to dig in the settings to enable it, though

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/home/pineapplelover@lemm.ee
1 point
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If you don’t, just force power restart it. You can search this up online for your model.

https://www.hardreset.info/devices/samsung/samsung-galaxy-a50/softreset-second-method/

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jose1324@lemmy.world
3 points

Depends on the rom. It’s in Android since 9. Samsung definitely has it, but you have to enable it

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Mac@mander.xyz
3 points

I didn’t realize how many people didn’t know this so someone should probably post a PSA and quick guide in c/Privacy.

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Clent@lemmy.world
1 point

Without having to look at the device?

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refalo@programming.dev
1 point

Nope :(

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Zagorath@aussie.zone
5 points

So you know what it is? I just tried both volume keys and all I got was TalkBack (Google’s screen reader).

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Mac@mander.xyz
7 points

it’s called lockdown mode. on my phone you press and hold the power button and select the option. you might have to enable this in settings.

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/home/pineapplelover@lemm.ee
4 points

I find it a little useless since you can also shut it down or force restart (continuously hold power button until it restarts)

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Blizzard@lemmy.zip
13 points

Holy connoli, you are right! I just enabled it.

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