Google can unlock some Android devices remotely, district attorney says

New York County district attorney report argues Google and Apple should give law enforcement access to user smartphone data reveals court order system

Google and Apple can and will unlock smartphones and tablets when ordered to do so by a court, if the devices are not encrypted, a report from the Manhattan district attorney's office has said.

The report, which details methods for extracting information from smartphones and other Android or iOS devices for law enforcement purposes when the owner does not give permission, explains that Apple can reset a locked phone with physical access to the device and Google can do similar remotely.