The US is charging an American citizen for wiping his phone at the border
What's happening
The US government is prosecuting American citizen Sam Tunick for using a "duress password" that wiped his phone when federal agents tried to seize it at Atlanta's airport on January 24th, 2025. He's being charged for allegedly obstructing authorities during the border detention and search.
Who's involved
Sam Tunick is a US citizen who was detained by federal agents at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The prosecution is being brought by the US government's law enforcement and Department of Justice.
Why it matters
This case tests the limits of digital privacy rights at the border and could set a precedent for whether Americans can use technology to protect their data from government searches. It raises questions about whether device encryption features constitute obstruction of justice, with implications for millions of travelers and their constitutional protections.
More context
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has broad authority to search devices at borders without a warrant, a practice that has expanded significantly in recent years. This case comes amid growing tensions between device security features—like biometric locks and automated data deletion—and law enforcement access demands. The charges suggest the government views the automatic wiping as an intentional obstruction rather than a standard security feature, marking an aggressive interpretation of what constitutes criminal conduct at the border.