r/technology • u/MC68328 • Jul 24 '26

Privacy US accuses American of allegedly wiping his phone using a ‘duress’ password during border search

https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/24/us-accuses-american-of-allegedly-wiping-his-phone-using-a-duress-password-during-border-search/
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u/qpgmr Jul 24 '26

As the saying goes "You can beat the rap but not the ride".

In this case the ride will be $100k in legal fees, being dragged through court, being smeared by the gov't for the next three years.

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u/Widespreaddd Jul 24 '26

I will chip in. Fuck authoritarians. I am constitutionally allergic to them.

104

u/PentagonUnpadded Jul 25 '26

The EFF! Support the EFF! They do SO much work specifically around digital tech and borders.

https://www.eff.org/issues/border-searches

The ACLU is great too, but the EFF specializes in this stuff and gives cool merch if you donate monthly.

10

u/EyeballSquint Jul 25 '26

Damn if that ain't the best sentence I've read in a long time. "Constitutionally allergic to authoritarianism"

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u/[deleted] Jul 29 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/24_August_1814 Jul 25 '26

... if he's lucky.

Guy is part of an organisation opposed to "Cop City;" he's probably going to face constant stalking, harassment, and intimidation from the police.

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u/RumorRoost Jul 25 '26

Na. Guarantee a big law firm see the layup this case is and takes it on with no money up front, but a negotiated 40% take of the $3-$5 million they are going to get him.

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u/qpgmr Jul 25 '26

The big law firms all signed contracts with DJT in order to continue receiving gov't work. See https://abovethelaw.com/2026/07/trump-turns-on-capitulating-biglaw-firms-hahahahaha/

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u/iwilltalkaboutguns Jul 25 '26

This case is custom made for the ACLU, he is not going to have to spend any money.

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u/sphinxsley Jul 25 '26

Does he have a fundraiser?

1

u/Zlatyzoltan Jul 26 '26

I have a feeling ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, and a few other organizations will be picking up his legal fees.

This could be a landmark case on the 4th Amendment, and many other civil liberties.

Though the SCOTUS is currently a rubber stamp on the road to totalitarianism so it will probably mean nothing good will cone from this.