FBI Tries To Force Google To Unlock User's Android Phone

Trailrunner7 writes "Those multi-gesture passcode locks on Android phones that give users (and their spouses) fits apparently present quite a challenge for the FBI as well. Frustrated by a swipe passcode on the seized phone of an alleged gang leader, FBI officials have requested a search warrant that would force Google to 'provide law enforcement with any and all means of gaining access, including login and password information, password reset, and/or manufacturer default code ("PUK"), in order to obtain the complete contents of the memory of cellular telephone.' The request is part of a case involving an alleged gang leader and human trafficker named Dante Dears in California. Dears served several years in prison for his role in founding a gang in California called PhD, and upon his release he went back to his activities with the gang, according to the FBI's affidavit."

This should be interesting

[amginenigma]

Can you say whoops.... "The FBI special agent who wrote the affidavit also requested that Dears not be told about the information request, however the search warrant and affidavit were not sealed." Pretty sure the whole planet knows now dood...

Are you telling me?

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Are you telling me that you can't unlock one of these phones, without a PhD?

Why don't they ask Apple - they own swipe 2 unlock

[hashish]

Why don't they ask Apple - they own swipe to unlock

Re:Are you telling me?

[Trecares]

Well the police does hold a PhD.....

doin it wrong, FBI

[Anonymous Coward]

If they truly want any information on the guy, just have FBI officials disguse themselves as reps from an advertising firm. Google would gladly sell every piece of information available on the suspect.

Re:Are you telling me?

[__aaltlg1547]

Well the police does hold a PhD.....

Only in a cell.

Re:No, don't Google it.

[Sqr(twg)]

In the olde days, a Google search would produce the same results for the same search term. Not so anymore. If I search for "waterboarding" I get Wikipedia, NPR, and a number of human-rights activist sites. If Dick Cheney searches for the same term, he gets "Waterboarding magazine", "50 fun ways of torturing a PoW", and newamericancentury.org
So to be re-usable the URL must include lots of information about the person who did the search, like age, religion, political beliefs, sex (with whom, how often), and so on. I'm actually impressed they can fit all that in 250 characters.