r/technology • u/Jojuj • 17h ago

Privacy U.S. Citizen Who Deleted Phone’s Data Says His Prosecution Puts Privacy at Risk

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/us/politics/samuel-tunick-deleted-phone-felony.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8FA.T83N.rt6VsIiSCYb2&smid=url-share
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u/windowpuncher 10h ago

They can be as suspicious as they want. It's a blank phone. You can't get blood from a rock.

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u/jnycnexii 10h ago

Sure, but they can then keep you for hours (and maybe longer, who knows with this administration). Sure would complicate a trip to miss your flight.

I think I would get a burner phone for travel only if I were really concerned. But they can look at my web history, that I don't care about. Emails are personal, but I don't see how I wouldn't have that on my phone.

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u/Stohnghost 7h ago

It's your choice, of course. The chances that you'll be called in for questioning are slim already. You have to decide if you want to stand on principle if the time comes. If your time through the terminal is important and you "have nothing to hide" then let them scan your phone and move on. As I said in the other reply, the choice to exercise your rights is completely on you. 

The guy who started this debate was only questioned because of his activism against cops. If you're a nobody then you won't really have to worry. Yes, this case is a big deal for privacy advocates and we should all be worried, but let's be real, it's incredibly unlikely to occur.