iOS 11 Has A Feature That Deactivates Touch ID

It appears that Apple is incorporating a new feature on iOS 11 that will instantly deactivate Touch ID. The purpose of this feature is actually to provide a means for automating emergency services calls. Basically, the feature works by allowing iOS mobile users to tap the power button quickly five times in order to be able to quickly dial 911. To be perfectly clear, this does not automatically let a user dial emergency services by default. What it does instead is display the option to and temporarily turn off Touch ID until one provides a passcode. 

What happened in previous iOS versions was that temporarily deactivating Touch ID meant having to restart the iPhone device, wait for a number of days before the handset automatically asks for the passcode, try another finger repeatedly in order to force the device to lock out, or just deactivate Touch ID by heading to the setting section. 

It goes without saying that Apple’s new feature allows users to take full advantage of a far more discreet method of locking out an iPhone, especially if they find themselves in a scenario wherein they are worried that somebody else might force them to unlock the device.

Using a fingerprint reader to unlock mobile devices has become much talked about subject for law enforcement requests. Cops in Michigan have even gone as far as 3D printing the fingerprint of a victim of a murder in order to unlock a handset. With border patrol searches on mobile devices grabbing headlines lately, this new feature on iOS 11 should at least help prevent Touch ID from being used until a passcode is inputted.

There has been talk that Apple is considering incorporating a face unlocking feature on its next generation of iPhone devices, which means that the new “cop button” feature on iOS 11 is as relevant as ever. In situations where a user might not need to be physically forced to unlock a device, a feature that lets people instantly deactivate Touch ID or a face unlocking feature could become even more handy. 

In recent times, law enforcement agencies have drawn flak from the legal system and mobile companies when it comes to gaining access to people’s handsets. A clear example was the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s attempt to convince Apple to unlock an iPhone unit used by a suspect in the San Bernardino attacks. And more recently, those entering the United States have had to deal with border patrol searches on their mobile devices.