Crime & justice

'Stop Cop City' Protester Prosecuted Over Phone-Wiping Technology

Is this a chilling attack on privacy or a clear-cut case of obstruction?

Published JUL 27

'Stop Cop City' Protester Prosecuted Over Phone-Wiping Technology

Story

Above: A protest in solidarity with the Atlanta 'Stop Cop City' movement in Washington, D.C., on March 28, 2023. Image credit: Celal Gunes/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Government-critical narrative

Using a security feature designed to protect private data shouldn't be a crime, and prosecuting Sam Tunick for it sets a terrifying precedent. Border agents had no warrant, denied him a lawyer and used a bogus pretext to dig into his political activism — which makes this a fishing expedition. Punishing someone for a phone doing exactly what it was built to do turns privacy tools into criminal acts.

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Pro-government narrative

Federal law clearly states that knowingly destroying property to block a lawful seizure is a crime, and Tunick clearly intended to obstruct an official investigation. While the defense can try to make a warrant argument, border agents don't need one to search devices at the point of entry, and courts have consistently upheld that authority. Deliberately triggering a wipe the moment authorities request access is obstruction.

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