The FBI has ordered a suspect to unlock his iPhone X using the facial recognition feature in the first case known worldwide of authorities using Apple’s face ID technology to pry into devices.
The incident occurred in Columbus, Ohio, when the FBI entered the home of Grant Michalski, 28, on August 10 while investigating him for child abuse.
An agent ordered Michalski to open the phone and once inside uncovered salacious chats that helped charge him with receiving and possessing child pornography, according to Forbes.
An FBI agent forced a Grant Michalski, 28, to unlock his iPhone X with facial recognition on August 10 in Columbus, Ohio (file image)
Forbes obtained court documents which revealed special agent David Knight entered Michalski’s home with a search warrant and forced the suspect to unlock his phone with his face.
This allowed Knight to go through the contents of Michalski’s device, including online chats and photos.
The search revealed Kik conversations, including a chat with an undercover officer posing as a father looking for sex with minors.
He also discovered Michalski discussing abusing minors.
The 28-year-old was eventually charged with receiving and possessing child pornography.
However, the FBI did not have Michalski’s phone passcode, which blocked forensic tools from uncovering deleted files.
The case is part of a larger ongoing between law enforcement and technology giants.
Tech companies argue the feature could also potentially allow police to unlock phones of suspects to find incriminating evidence, without having to get a court to try and force them to hand over their passcode.
The agent uncovered salacious messages and photos on Michalski’s device and he was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography (file image)
Concerns first arose when Apple introduced touch ID, which allows users to unlock iPhones with their fingerprints.
This was reportedly used to unlock the phones of dead people.
Experts have also warned that the facial recognition technology has the potential be abused by thieves, forcing iPhone X owners to unlock their phones to steal information and wipe them to sell, or even an abusive partner wanting to look through their spouses’ messages.
Jerome Greco, staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society, told Forbes: ‘Traditionally, using a person’s face as evidence or to obtain evidence would be considered lawful. But never before have we had so many people’s own faces be the key to unlock so much of their private information.’
However in this case, officials seemed to do everything right by obtaining a search warrant ahead of time.