Just we need, an excuse for a cop to take your unlocked phone away to his car to do whatever he likes with it.
this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2025
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It won't solve the above, but may be useful information for cases like this:
If you're not aware already, you can "pin" an Android app to lock it to the screen, so nobody can easily switch to another app without using your login pin/code/pattern.
Firstly, to turn it on, you need to go to Settings>Security & Privacy>Other Security Settings and switch on "Pin App". The location of this setting may be different depending on the manufacturer of your mobile phone.
Then, to lock a particular app to the screen, press the three-lines button (maybe a square on your telephone?) to open up the program switcher, then press the circular thumbnail of the icon at the top of the screen, to open up the menu you didn't know existed, and select "pin this app".
Without your password or login pattern, your telephone will only show the currently open app. Nobody can switch to other programs or mess with other stuff without unlocking the phone.
To unlock it afterwards, you then hold the < and the three lines buttons for a few seconds, then enter your normal login code/pin/pattern to unlock. It will tell you this when you lock it.
Which works unless the attacker has a Cellebrite/Graykey device for cracking open phones, as the police sometimes do.
Well yeah, if they really wanted to "get you" for something, I'm sure they'll find a way - but it's a good bare minimum for casual snooping - avoiding the awkwardness of someone accidentally swiping onto your Jerboa app and then you having to explain how "writing silly comments about guillotining billionaires and throwing right-wing politicians into the sea isn't actually a serious terrorist threat, officer".
Neat trick! I've enabled it on my phone now, though it does say that it's probably better to use a guest user for such situations... I don't know how to do that either.
Still, this is additionally handy when I want to let my kid briefly use my phone.
This may all be moot though, if the state requires you to install a government app with invasive permissions just for this situation. Yet another reason to give up driving!
I don't know about guest user stuff either actually - I might look into it at some point if I feel the need.
And yes, I've only ever used the "pin app" practically for letting young relatives play games and stuff on my phone, knowing they won't be able to switch apps and send anyone a message - like the "Poo poo willy bum message" incident last year :)
That's spot on definition of what happening in here
Reminder that the UK is actually fairly lax in comparison to other countries when it comes to showing your drivers licence to police. Most countries require you to have it with you when you drive, the UK does not.
If you don't want to show your license, don't. Say you left it at home.
They can request that you come into a police station with it within 7 days, but in reality they probably won't because they can trivially search for this information anyway.
Certainly don't hand over an unlocked phone.
I mean, written a little anti-establishment, but you’re completely right, the ‘producer’ slip issued to bring your documents in has been standard stuff for decades and all of the digital info is available to them as soon as they stop you, so it’s literally just proving your face matches the documents to have it with you. If they just had your mug pop up on the screen in their car, who would need to produce anything?
I don't even need an ID at my credit union's drive thru. They look at their camera, they look at their computer, it's me, done.
I got a ticket, in my canoe, for not having my registration paper. The registration number and expiration tag are on the side of the fucking boat. I think the cop was annoyed that I had my license for having a trolling motor on hand, had to nail me somehow.
Think on that, we have to keep two pieces of paper available on a canoe. Had to print them on waterproof paper.
I would have known it was required if the water pig had asked for it when she pulled me over last year.
America's uptight about "papers please, comrade".
I might consider using it if it was an open data format, or a download to Google Wallet, Apple Wallet etc but it's a proprietary app.
Why the fuck does it need to be an app?
Why would anyone want to send telemetry directly to the government, it's insane.
I don’t see the problem, if you’ve ever used the hmrc tax app, it’s completely fine.
I hope they allow non driving ID to be registered on the app for all proof of ID purposes. I have a niece who cannot get a driving license due to epilepsy and if they are going to expect digital ID for a lot of services it would be difficult if she could not use it.
But carrying a piece of paper around has been part of my life for so long. I will write to my MP about this immediately!