A Cellphone Is Not a Suitcase
The article examines the legal controversy surrounding the 'border exception' to the Fourth Amendment, which allows federal agents to search electronic devices without a warrant. It highlights the case of an activist charged with destruction of evidence after wiping his phone during a border inspection.
Why it matters
It raises critical questions about digital privacy rights and the extent of government authority at international borders in the modern era.
The government should need a warrant to look in your phone.
Illustration by Jonelle Afurong / The Atlantic. Sources: Pavlo Stavnichuk / Getty; Prasert Krainukul / Getty. August 5, 2026, 10:40 AM ET Share Save Last year, an Atlanta activist, Samuel Tunick, caught a felony charge for something that Americans are free to do anytime: He wiped the data from his phone. The only problem was that he did it by providing a federal agent in an airport with a “duress password” that, rather than unlock the device so the agent could search it, deleted its contents.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in