Activist uses duress code to wipe phone, faces federal charge

Samuel Tunick, an Atlanta resident, faces federal charges after using a duress code to wipe his phone during a customs inspection upon returning from abroad. Tunick was flagged for his activism against the construction of a law enforcement facility known as Cop City. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents sought access to his phone, alleging they were investigating child sexual abuse.

Tunick's use of GrapheneOS, an Android variant that includes a duress feature, allowed him to delete all data on his phone when he entered a specific code instead of unlocking it. This incident has raised legal questions, as the DOJ is using a statute against damaging property to pursue charges against him. Tunick’s lawyers argue this was a violation of his rights and an unlawful fishing expedition against activists.