A Man Gave Border Agents His Phone Passcode. It Wiped Everything. Now He's Facing Federal Charges
Summary
Samuel Tunick, an Atlanta resident, faces federal charges after allegedly using a “duress password” on his phone during a warrantless border search at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in January 2025. Prosecutors cite 18 U.S.C. § 2232, which bars destroying property to prevent seizure. The phone allegedly wiped itself after he entered the code, deleting encryption keys and data. The feature exists in GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused Android variant for Pixel phones, and was added in June 2024 to protect users under coercion. Tunick’s lawyers say CBP questioned him without a warrant, lawyer, or Miranda warning, then seized the device. He has pleaded not guilty, and a judge will later rule on his suppression motion.
