All articles tagged with #border search
Prosecutors allege Sam Tunick used GrapheneOS to wipe his Pixel during an Atlanta airport screening to destroy evidence in an investigation tied to Cop City protests; his defense says the warrantless search violated constitutional rights, raising questions about border search powers and the legality of privacy-focused operating systems, with a judge's ruling anticipated later this year.
US prosecutors have charged Sam Tunick with destroying or damaging property to prevent a border seizure, alleging he used GrapheneOS’s “duress password” to wipe his phone at Atlanta’s airport in January 2025. Tunick’s lawyers argue the detention was unlawful and that agents lacked a warrant or rights advisement, while the government says a warrant wasn’t required for entry. The case highlights tensions between digital privacy and law enforcement at U.S. borders and questions about evidence admissibility in border searches.