Privacy Advocates Win With Biometric Mobile Device Ruling  - Olmec Skip to main content

Privacy Advocates Win With Biometric Mobile Device Ruling 

By January 29, 2019June 2nd, 2022Cybersecurity

A recent court ruling handed privacy advocates a big, and much needed win.  Prior to the ruling, law enforcement officials were in the habit of compelling “persons of interest” to unlock their phones via their face scan or fingerprint so that investigators could examine it.

A US judge has now ruled that this is unacceptable, even in cases where there is a warrant in play.

The judge’s ruling deemed that such actions were a violation of a person’s Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. That builds on earlier rulings that established a person cannot be compelled to hand over the passcode to unlock their phone.  This expands upon that line of thinking, providing the same protection for biometric security measures.

It’s a sensible ruling, even if it complicates things a bit for law enforcement.  It is unquestionably a victory that has lifted the spirits of privacy advocates and watchdog groups.  Having said that, the victory is likely only a temporary one, as the ruling will no doubt be challenged by future cases as they make their way through the justice system.

The judge who made the ruling mentioned that our technology is outpacing the law, and this is not an idle statement.  He’s absolutely correct, and that simple fact has left law enforcement agencies in the unhappy position of making it up as they go.

There are no simple solutions here. Sadly, more often than not, individual privacy is sacrificed in the name of the public good.  At some point, however, one has to imagine that there’s a line.  We are likely to be wrestling with exactly where that line is for quite some time to come. Meanwhile, privacy activists do have reason to cheer, and that’s good news for everyone.

Jason Manteiga

Jason J. Manteiga, Vice President of Olmec Systems, has been part of the company for over the past 20 years. He believes that having a great work environment and supportive team, is the ultimate key to success. Since being in the IT realm for over 25 years, Jason, along with Olmec Systems, has been on the Inc. 5000 “List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies” and Channel Futures MSP 501 “Top Managed Service Providers in North America,” along with other awards and nominations. Jason earned his Bachelor Degree in Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He also holds certifications in Microsoft MCSE, VMWare VCP, and Cisco CCNA. In his spare time, Jason is a contributor for The Center for Social & Legal Research (Privacy Exchange) and a member of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. His hobbies include cycling and kayaking. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters and son.