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

“I have not seen this before, though I’ve discussed the potential scenario with activists and journalists over the years,” said Sandvik. “I think this case serves as a reminder that authorities may argue you knowingly destroyed data, so it’s better to not have that data on you when you cross certain borders.” 

“With a little planning ahead of time, you can always download the data you need once you get to where you’re going,” said Sandvik. 

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has guides on how to protect your data and security at the U.S. border, and explaining what rights you have.

The Atlanta federal court overseeing the case is expected to rule on Tunick’s motion to suppress later this year. A Justice Department spokesperson did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.