January 30, 2026
Hands off my face, officer
A judge gave the FBI permission to attempt to bypass biometrics
FBI gets OK to try face/finger unlock on reporter’s phone — comments explode
TLDR: A judge let the FBI try face or fingerprint unlocking during a reporter’s home raid, with limits tied to self-incrimination rights. The community erupted: some demand ditching biometrics, others tout privacy-focused phones, duress myths, and jokes about “kill fingers,” all warning that passcodes beat convenience when stakes are high.
Internet meltdown alert: a judge let the FBI try using a reporter’s face or finger to unlock her phone during a raid — and the comment section went nuclear. Hannah Natanson of the Washington Post hasn’t been charged, but the warrant’s “Biometric Unlock” section sparked a full-on privacy panic. The twist? Agents couldn’t ask which finger she uses, thanks to recent rulings that say forcing the “right finger” can be like making you talk — the 5th Amendment protects against self-incrimination. Privacy pros at the Electronic Frontier Foundation EFF want courts to treat biometrics like passwords. Meanwhile, journalists are told by Freedom of the Press Foundation to shut off biometrics when things might go sideways. The community? Split and spicy. One camp scolds: “Journalists should never use biometrics.” Another camp touts tech hacks like GrapheneOS link and whispers about an iPhone “duress mode.” A practical crowd drops a non-techy tip: a quick button combo puts iPhones into passcode-only mode, drawing cheers and fact-checks. Chaos ensues with jokes about a “kill finger” that wipes your phone, and hardliners urging physical lockouts. It’s part panic, part DIY survival guide, and 100% drama.
Key Points
- •A federal warrant for journalist Hannah Natanson authorized agents to attempt to unlock her devices using face or fingerprints.
- •The warrant barred investigators from asking Natanson for specifics about her biometric setup, unless volunteered, aligning with recent case law.
- •Natanson has not been charged; the search relates to alleged communications with contractor Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, who faces national defense information charges.
- •EFF’s Andrew Crocker cited a D.C. Circuit ruling that biometric unlocking can be Fifth Amendment-protected testimony, especially when identifying the unlocking finger.
- •Security advice in the article recommends disabling biometrics in high-risk scenarios, using alphanumeric passphrases, and powering off devices to maintain encryption.