Comment

Comment by WaitWaitWha

Just a pet peeve with passkeys (and other authN) that presses users towards biometrics -

In the US, because the Fifth Amendment Self-Incrimination Clause, passwords cannot be demanded. Passwords are testimonial evidence. [United States v. Hubbell (2000); re Grand Jury Subpoena Duces Tecum (11th Cir. 2012)]

Biometrics on the other hand are not. The court ruled that a defendant could be compelled to unlock a phone with biometrics because it is not testimonial. [Commonwealth v. Baust (Virginia, 2014); State v. Diamond (Minnesota, 2017)]

Basically, passwords cannot be compelled to be disclosed, while biometrics can.

There is similar legal stance in Canada, UK, Australia, India, Germany, and Brazil to name a few.

Finally, under duress, passwords can be held, while biometrics cannot, without self harm.

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