DHS Said They Searched Man Who Wiped GrapheneOS Phone for Child Abuse Material. They Lied
Officials said they wanted to search the phone of Samuel Tunick, a Stop Cop City activist, for child abuse material. It was actually because he was suspected of “terrorist activities.”
In January 2025, a Department of Homeland Security official intercepted Samuel Tunick, an activist involved in the Stop Cop City movement, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The DHS official claimed they were investigating Tunick for suspected "terrorist activities" and sent an alert to this effect, according to court records.
However, Tunick was later charged with a crime for wiping his GrapheneOS phone, which was believed to contain child abuse material. CBP officials lied to Tunick during his interrogation, claiming they were looking for "kiddie porn" on his device. Tunick successfully wiped his phone using a code, preventing the government from accessing its contents.
He now faces up to five years in federal prison for his actions, which the DHS officials allege was an attempt to evade their lawful authority. This case is one of the most high-profile technology civil rights cases in recent memory, as it sets a precedent regarding privacy rights in the digital age. Tunick's lawyers argue that the charges are meant to intimidate individuals from protecting their data and privacy, and that there was no reason for CBP officials to suspect Tunick of possessing child pornography.
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