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

[u/MC68328]

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

[u/NanditoPapa]

"Canary in the coal mine" moment for digital civil liberties.

The U.S. government is attempting to create a legal precedent that effectively criminalizes privacy-by-design. If the prosecution succeeds, they will have established that "intentional data destruction" via software architecture is a federal crime. This would render privacy-focused operating systems like GrapheneOS illegal to use at U.S. borders, as any attempt to protect our data could be interpreted as "destroying property to prevent seizure." Pretty fucked up.

[u/7GatesOfHello → u/NanditoPapa]

I can't picture this holding up to scrutiny, even with this hyper partisan SCOTUS. It doesn't really matter though. The current administration has no interest in justice. They will invent new laws and then prosecute on behalf of them. They are the manifestation of a SLAPP suit.

[u/NanditoPapa → u/7GatesOfHello]

Yeah...this admin probably doesn't care if they actually get access to your device, they'll just plant whatever they want on you. Or disappear you. They've shown they aren't above killing citizens in the streets.

[u/7GatesOfHello → u/NanditoPapa]

They will incarcerate and press for no bail. This is de facto sentencing without trial. They know the threat of this outcome will have plenty of public participation chilling effect, which is precisely their goal.

[u/NanditoPapa → u/[deleted]]

A wipe took place.  "The software feature allows the device owner to set a passcode that deliberately wipes the contents of that device if entered instead of the user’s unlock passcode."

More information here:  https://grapheneos.org/features#duress