Can police force people to unlock a mobile phone with a face or finger? Before this month the answer would have been “yes.” But a decision by a California judge in a recent decision will protect people’s privacy from police searches.

Before this ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California police had been allowed to force suspects to unlock devices such as phones with biometrics, fingerprints or faces. But they were not allowed to compel suspects to reveal their passcode to access their phone.

This ruling could be overturned by higher courts but for now fifth amendment rights are safe across America.

For more information see this article.