Is it illegal to trick the US government into wiping your phone during a questionably legal search?

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.
Reported by 1 outlet — The Verge. See all sources ↓
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 "was a pretext for a fishing expedition" into his connections with the Stop Cop City protests in Atlanta, in which dozens of people were charged … Read the full story at The Verge.
Read the full report at The Verge ↗
Why it matters
A technology story we're tracking; its significance and source trust firm up as more outlets confirm it.
- What's the story?
- 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.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 16h ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
Here's how each outlet is covering the story — compare their headlines and timing at a glance.
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Is it illegal to trick the US government into wiping your phone during a questionably legal search?
Sources1TypeCoverageThe Verge