Georgia State University has rescinded a job offer given to a high profile activist who is currently fighting a case in which he allegedly wiped a security-focused Android phone before Customs and Border Protection (CBP) could search it. The case, which 404 Media first covered and has now received widespread and national attention, has important ramifications for privacy and when someone can still be charged with an offense even if authorities don’t have suspicion of any specific crime.
Earlier this month, activist Samuel Tunick and a group of supporters delivered a “demand letter” to the university. That letter, which Tunick shared with 404 Media, says he explained to the university he was facing a pending charge, which he describes as “an instance of textbook political repression, and a high profile civil liberties case.”
While delivering the letter, supporters held signs saying, “GSU sides with Trump,” and “Digital Privacy Under Attack!”
That’s just another fantasy scenario which will in no way protect you from being charged. It may or may not save you from jail but you will still lose time, money and job offers.
The only way to do in a situation like this is to fully comply. So:
if you only have to protect your data store it in the cloud and simply uninstall cloud client before going through security
if you have to protect chats, contacts, browsing history etc. split your communications between two phones. Make sure the dummy phone is actually used (has apps, calls history, chat history, browsing history, pictures). Keep all sensitive communication on one phone and never take it through security
Unlock and show your phone. Let them scan it. Make sure it looks legit but has no sensitive info. All other games will get you in trouble.
I’m good, they can put me in jail and take over my $750,000/yr dialysis bill.
if what ICE does is any indication, they’ll just put you in jail, not deal with any medical issues, and you die
That’s exactly it. Wiping ‘evidence’ in front of law enforcement means instant jail. In certain areas of the world it’s far worse punishment. I have a feeling a lot of people here have never visited Russia, even in the most ‘friendly’ of times.
like they’re not gonna just plant evidence
ICE shot a guy in the middle of the street while being filmed from 5 different angles and no one was even charged. If they are targeting you specifically you’re fucked and no amount of fake PINs and acting will save you. If they are not targeting you the best thing you can do is not to draw attention.
then if theyre gonna do whatever they please i should just… wipe my phone so they dont get access to my info and contacts and shit?
Of course, if you know you’re fucked either way you can do whatever you like. In some places activists can operate in public but in places like US, Mexico or Russia you either operate in secret or risk repressions, no way around it. I mean, you wouldn’t expect the law to protect you from the government in Russia, why would you expect it in US?