Arrested for using privacy phone duress passcode

A case in the U.S. is drawing significant attention in the privacy community. A traveler returning to the United States was arrested after prosecutors alleged he entered a GrapheneOS duress passcode, wiping his phone during a CBP border inspection. The government isn't claiming GrapheneOS is illegal , they're charging him with destroying property to prevent seizure, essentially arguing that using the phone's built-in secure wipe feature during an attempted search was a crime.

The case also highlights how different the rules can be at the border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has broad authority to search travelers and their devices at ports of entry, often without the warrant requirements that would normally apply inside the country. Civil liberties groups have long argued these border-search powers provide fewer privacy protections than people expect, and that legal safeguards are more limited in this context.

This is another reminder that governments are increasingly testing the limits of digital privacy. Features designed to protect your data can become part of a criminal case depending on when and how they're used.

As we all travel internationally, and many of us carrying sensitive personal or business information, this is a case worth following closely.

Crazy stuff. The coppers hate GrapheneOS for sure !

At least the children are safe though right?

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Arrested for using privacy phone duress passcode