Samuel Tunick charged with obstruction after wiping phone during border search

Federal prosecutors have charged activist Samuel Tunick with obstruction of justice after he used a duress passcode to wipe his smartphone during a U.S. Customs and Border Protection search. The device, a Pixel running GrapheneOS, was programmed to delete all data when a specific secondary code was entered instead of the standard unlock code.

Theodore Hertzberg, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, stated that individuals who attempt to destroy data to prevent lawful search and seizure should expect prosecution. U.S. Customs and Border Protection maintained that the agency has the authority to search electronic devices of anyone entering or leaving the country to enforce laws regarding national security, terrorism, and smuggling.

Tunick has defended his actions as a defense of fundamental privacy rights, describing the government's attempts to access private communications as an intrusion into democratic life.