Duress passcode leads to U.S. prosecution of traveler
2 days ago
- An American citizen, Samuel Tunick, is being prosecuted for using a 'duress passcode' to wipe his phone during a routine CBP search at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
- Prosecutors claim Tunick deliberately provided a passcode that erased the phone's contents to prevent authorities from seizing data, charging him under a federal statute for destroying property.
- Tunick's attorneys argue the border search was unlawful, alleging CBP officers targeted him for his association with the Defend the Atlanta Forest movement and violated his constitutional rights, including denial of a lawyer.
- The case is considered first-of-its-kind and could have broader implications for travelers using privacy features like duress passcodes at U.S. borders.