American Faces Charges for Allegedly Using 'Duress' Password to Wipe Phone at Border
Samuel Tunick's case raises questions about constitutional rights at the border.
1First known 'duress password' case
The U.S. Department of Justice is prosecuting Samuel Tunick for allegedly using a 'duress password' to wipe his phone at the border. This marks the first known case where federal prosecutors have charged someone for using such a feature embedded in phone software.
2GrapheneOS feature at the center
The case revolves around a feature in GrapheneOS, a custom Android operating system used on Google Pixel devices. This feature allows users to set a password that deliberately wipes the phone's contents. Tunick's lawyers confirmed his phone was running this system.
3Constitutional rights at the border questioned
Tunick's case raises ongoing questions about which constitutional rights can be invoked at the border. The U.S. government has long argued that the border is not U.S. soil until a person is authorized to enter.
4Phone seized during secondary inspection
Tunick's phone was seized during a secondary inspection at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport on January 24, 2025. His lawyers claim he was denied access to an attorney and was not informed of his legal rights.
5Child exploitation pretext?
Tunick's lawyers allege that the government demanded access to his phone under the pretext of searching for child exploitation imagery but failed to provide evidence to justify this suspicion. The case may be linked to Tunick's association with an environmental movement opposing 'Cop City.'
6A crucial reminder about data security
Digital security experts view this case as an important reminder about data security at borders. They advise against carrying sensitive data when crossing certain borders and recommend planning ahead to download necessary data upon arrival.