“Lockdown Mode” is a new feature in Android P — it disables fingerprint login, forcing you to enter your PIN/passcode to unlock the device. This is an important, but subtle, distinction. Ultimately, what’s the difference between your passcode and your fingerprint?
The difference comes down to legal precedents in the US. Legally, the police can compel you to unlock a device using biometrics (e.g. face or fingerprint). They can’t, however, force you to unlock the device using your passcode. This is due to the Fifth Amendment to the US constitution — you can’t be compelled to testify against yourself. Courts have said that revealing your passcode is equivalent to providing testimony against yourself — but using your body to unlock the phone isn’t legally the same thing. I’m not going to try to explain the underlying legal theories in depth, but if you want to read more, check out these articles:
- Wired – Why Cops can Force You to Unlock Your Phone with your Face
- Cult of Mac – Cops can force you to use Touch ID, but not your passcode
There are a lot more details and complications that I’m glossing over, but if you were curious about why Android bothered to create a new mode that forced one type of login while disabling another — I think this is why they did it.
Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer and this isn’t legal advice — if police action is in your threat model, you need to talk to a real lawyer.
