US prosecutors charge Atlanta man after GrapheneOS phone wipes itself during airport search
The case centers on Tunick’s use of GrapheneOS, an open-source operating system that works on Google Pixel phones and lets users enter a passcode to wipe a…
This case is really strange.
The case raises questions about which constitutional rights apply at US borders, including international airports, where authorities have broader search powers.
On the one hand, destroying evidence during an investigation or which someone believes might be linked to one is a generally bad idea. However, to me it seems like the border agents should have had no right to search the phone without a warrant. Seize maybe, but not search. If the search was illegal and the case dismissed (especially since Tunick was not read Miranda which seems to imply there was no arrest?), then I think it would be hard to argue that any evidence was destroyed because the investigation itself would have been performed illegally.
In any case, doing this in a legal search of the phone (with a warrant) is most likely illegal.
Midnitte@beehaw.org 2 days ago
Fuck all the way off. This man did nothing wrong during this interaction, its police that fucked up.
andrewrgross@slrpnk.net 2 days ago
It’s a scary moment, but I’m very gently optimistic that it will set some good precedent, and that he might have a strong case to counter sue over the blatant infringement of his rights.