FBI seizes journalist's iPhone but Apple's lockdown mode prevents it
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reported that it was unable to analyze the iPhone of a confiscated journalist because it had a security feature called '
FBI Couldn't Get into WaPo Reporter's iPhone Because It Had Lockdown Mode Enabled
https://www.404media.co/fbi-couldnt-get-into-wapo-reporters-iphone-because-it-had-lockdown-mode-enabled/
FBI stymied by Apple's Lockdown Mode after seizing journalist's iPhone - Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/fbi-stymied-by-apples-lockdown-mode-after-seizing-journalists-iphone/
How does Lockdown Mode protect iPhone security?
https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/02/04/iphone-lockdown-mode-will-protect-your-data-even-from-the-fbi
WaPo Raid Is a Frightening Reminder: Turn Off Your Phone's Biometrics Now
https://theintercept.com/2026/01/30/washington-post-hannah-natanson-fbi-biometrics-unlock-phone/?ref=404media.co
The FBI served a search warrant on Washington Post reporter Hannah Nathanson's home after she received information about a Pentagon contractor leaking classified information. The search included a Washington Post iPhone 13 and MacBook Pro, as well as Nathanson's personal MacBook Pro, a 1TB portable hard drive, a voice recorder, and a wristwatch.
The FBI sought to view Nathanson's Signal messages and was able to obtain a warrant to unlock the Post's MacBook Pro using fingerprint authentication, but was unable to unlock his iPhone.
The FBI then asked its Computer Analysis Response Team (CART) to analyze the device, but they were unable to extract any data from the device because the iPhone was in 'lockdown mode.'
Lockdown Mode is a feature designed for a small percentage of journalists and activists who are under serious threat, and it protects data on the device by severely restricting iPhone functionality. Apple seems so confident in this feature that, at the time of its release, it announced that it would offer a reward of up to $2 million (approximately 3.1 billion yen) to researchers who find loopholes or help improve the protection.
The new feature 'Lockdown Mode' in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura can block advanced spyware targeting important people - GIGAZINE
The fact that the lockdown mode was unable to be broken even by a specialized FBI team demonstrates its high level of security.
The search warrant also included a clause stating, 'If the device has biometric authentication enabled, investigators can unlock it by pressing Mr. Nathanson's finger against the device or holding it up to his face.' The MacBook Pro was unlocked by this command, but the iPhone did not have biometric authentication enabled.
'Nathanson initially stated that he did not use biometric authentication on his device, but complied with instructions once he was informed he had the warrant,' the FBI report said.
The U.S. Constitution provides for the right against self-incrimination , which guarantees that a person cannot be compelled to make statements that would be incriminating against them. However, in 2024, a court ruled that 'the right against self-incrimination does not prohibit police officers from forcing a suspect to unlock their phone using fingerprint authentication.'
According to the FBI report, at the time of filing, the FBI had not yet obtained a 'complete physical image' of the work-use MacBook Pro and had only extracted limited data. Furthermore, Nathanson's personal MacBook Pro was password-protected and encrypted, so no data was extracted. Furthermore, the FBI has suspended further investigation due to a court order during the investigation.
The suspect in the leak is Aurelio Pérez-Lugones, a systems administrator with top-secret security clearance in Maryland who was arrested for allegedly taking classified intelligence reports home. Communications between Pérez-Lugones and Nathanson were found on his computer.
The Washington Post and Nathanson sought the return of the seized items on First Amendment grounds, but the court rejected the request.
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in Smartphone, Security, Posted by log1p_kr