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Agents just took your phone at the border. Is it legal to wipe it?

The case of a traveler who allegedly entered a ‘duress password’ to wipe his phone raises a legal question with no easy answers. The case of a traveler who allegedly entered a ‘duress password’ to wipe his phone raises a legal question with no easy answers. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. A Georgia man was charged with a felony for allegedly wiping his phone while being questioned by Customs and Border Protection. Samuel Tunick had something in common with others who have had their devices searched at airports: He was an activist. Unlike others who have had their phones seized with no explanation, Tunick was told that CBP needed to search his device to determine whether it contained child sexual abuse material, according to court filings. But Tunick’s attorneys argue that the search “

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Jul 28, 2026·The VergeT2 · Outlet report
Agents just took your phone at the border. Is it legal to wipe it?

The case of a traveler who allegedly entered a ‘duress password’ to wipe his phone raises a legal question with no easy answers. The case of a traveler who allegedly entered a ‘duress password’ to wipe his phone raises a legal question…

Read original at The Verge →
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Jul 28, 2026·The VergeT2 · Outlet reportLATEST
Agents just took your phone at the border. Is it legal to wipe it?

The case of a traveler who allegedly entered a ‘duress password’ to wipe his phone raises a legal question with no easy answers. The case of a traveler who allegedly entered a ‘duress password’ to wipe his phone raises…

Read original at The Verge →

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What this story stands on. Tier 0 is a primary record or the subject's own words; higher tiers must be attributed, never stated as bare fact.

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T2 · Outlet reportThe VergeJul 28, 2026

The case of a traveler who allegedly entered a ‘duress password’ to wipe his phone raises a legal question with no easy answers. The case of a traveler who allegedly entered a ‘duress password’ to wipe his phone raises a legal question wit

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