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A U.S. Citizen Deleted His Phone’s Data (via duress passcode). Now He Faces a Felony Charge.
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zabadoh ani.social zabadoh@ani.social
Joined: 2023-11-19
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126   Original
zabadoh ani.social zabadoh@ani.social
Joined: 2023-11-19
#2 · Quote Reply

Removepaywall

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zabadoh ani.social zabadoh@ani.social
Joined: 2023-11-19
#3 · Quote Reply

I'd never heard of a "duress code" app, but it makes a lot of sense.

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ToiletFlushShowerScream piefed.world ToiletFlushShowerScream@piefed.world
Joined: 2025-07-10
#4 · Quote Reply

A citizen not under arrest? How is that destroying evidence?

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Truscape lemmy.blahaj.zone Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone
Joined: 2025-06-20
#5 · Quote Reply

I'd never heard of a "duress code" app, but it makes a lot of sense.

It's a native function of grapheneOS, as a "second passcode".

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Zetta mander.xyz Zetta@mander.xyz
Joined: 2023-06-12
#6 · (edited) Quote Reply

I'd never heard of a "duress code" app, but it makes a lot of sense.

Its not an app, its a feature of GrapheneOS. The most secure mobile os, sadly it only supports Google pixels, but for good reason. Pixels are the only android phones with hardware features up to their security standards.

Highly recommend GrapheneOS, been running it for years, gets Google out of all your personal data as well.

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zabadoh ani.social zabadoh@ani.social
Joined: 2023-11-19
#7 · (edited) Quote Reply

A citizen not under arrest? How is that destroying evidence?

They destroyed their own private information that might prove them guilty of a crime during an unreasonable search and seizure, therefore they're guilty of a different crime.

No entrapment at all.

Oh, and it wasn't even the person, it was law enforcement that erased the person's phone through arguably careless handling.

/s in case it isn't obvious.

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birdwing lemmy.blahaj.zone birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone
Joined: 2025-08-19
#8 · (edited) Quote Reply

Its not an app, its a feature of GrapheneOS. The most secure mobile os, sadly it only supports Google pixels, but for good reason. Pixels are the only android phones with hardware features up to their security standards. Highly recommend GrapheneOS, been running it for years, gets Google out of all your personal data as well.

Not just Pixels, soon they'll also support Motorola.

One major thing withholding me from buying one is that I find it difficult to reconcile privacy with that company, considering it's US-based (and thus subject to the CLOUD Act) and Chinese-owned (thus making me wonder whether the Chinese government can affect it).

Currently, I trust China more than the US government, but neither is great. The EU is comparatively more reliable, and the Nordics even more. I'd prefer a Fairphone with iPhone/GOS level of security.

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Krusty quokk.au Krusty@quokk.au
Joined: 2026-05-03
#9 · Quote Reply

They destroyed their own private information that might prove them guilty of a crime during an unreasonable search and seizure, therefore they're guilty of a different crime. No entrapment at all. Oh, and it wasn't even the person, it was law enforcement that erased the person's phone through arguably careless handling. /s in case it isn't obvious.

Why do people talk this way?

It's weird. Passive aggressive. Psychological issues?

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who feddit.org who@feddit.org
Joined: 2025-04-02
#10 · Quote Reply

Not just Pixels, soon they'll also support Motorola. One major thing withholding me from buying one is that I find it difficult to reconcile privacy with that company, considering it's US-based (and thus subject to the CLOUD Act) and Chinese-owned (thus making me wonder whether the Chinese government can affect it). Currently, I trust China more than the US government, but neither is great. The...

they’ll also support Motorola.

Motorola (the company whose name and reputation has been well known for decades) no longer exists. Its successor is called Motorola Solutions, and it's not the company making the upcoming GrapheneOS phone. That device is coming from Motorola Mobility, which is a completely separate company, owned by China's Lenovo.

thus making me wonder whether the Chinese government can affect it

They absolutely can. And, since they have the means, the incentive, and no reason to fear repercussions, they probably will. The questions on my mind are how they will affect it, and who will find out.

I hope the hardware and firmware features used by GrapheneOS will become common some day. I think Sony's Xperia line comes close. Perhaps the GrapheneOS maintainers should talk with them next.

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ToiletFlushShowerScream piefed.world ToiletFlushShowerScream@piefed.world
Joined: 2025-07-10
#11 · Quote Reply

They destroyed their own private information that might prove them guilty of a crime during an unreasonable search and seizure, therefore they're guilty of a different crime. No entrapment at all. Oh, and it wasn't even the person, it was law enforcement that erased the person's phone through arguably careless handling. /s in case it isn't obvious.

Hopefully it goes in front a judge who sees this as the harassment it clearly is. Thanks for posting

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XLE piefed.social XLE@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-06-23
#12 · Quote Reply

A citizen not under arrest? How is that destroying evidence?

You're not alone with this assessment. And what's more interesting...

“Many times the government wants to highlight what it was trying to investigate because that ups the stakes on what the defendant was doing,” Professor Richman said. “This is a case where I think they’re trying to avoid exactly that by focusing only on the destruction, and not what the investigation was about.”

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Archangel1313 lemmy.ca Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-06-03
#13 · Quote Reply

So, what I'm taking away from this is...just refuse to give them your passcode, ask for a lawyer, and shut the fuck up?

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deliriousdreams fedia.io deliriousdreams@fedia.io
Joined: 2025-11-01
#14 · Quote Reply

So, what I'm taking away from this is...just refuse to give them your passcode, ask for a lawyer, and shut the fuck up?

He asked for a lawyer. He was denied, repeatedly.

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deliriousdreams fedia.io deliriousdreams@fedia.io
Joined: 2025-11-01
#15 · Quote Reply

Why do people talk this way? It's weird. Passive aggressive. Psychological issues?

Out of curiosity, what is weird about it?

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Archangel1313 lemmy.ca Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-06-03
#16 · Quote Reply

He asked for a lawyer. He was denied, repeatedly.

That's where shutting the fuck up becomes a matter of survival. Give them nothing until your lawyer gets there.

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greencoil lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz greencoil@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz
Joined: 2024-08-16
#17 · (edited) Quote Reply

That's where shutting the fuck up becomes a matter of survival. Give them nothing until your lawyer gets there.

So exactly how long do you think you are supposed to stay silent before the cops decide your magically free to go, or in your fantasy land, they begrudgingly let you speak to a lawyer? Is it before or after the wrench method of obtaining passwords comes into play?

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Archangel1313 lemmy.ca Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-06-03
#18 · Quote Reply

So exactly how long do you think you are supposed to stay silent before the cops decide your magically free to go, or in your fantasy land, they begrudgingly let you speak to a lawyer? Is it before or after the wrench method of obtaining passwords comes into play?

Why would saying anything get you out any sooner? Do you think the guy in this story was better off for talking to them?

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Sunshine piefed.ca Sunshine@piefed.ca
Joined: 2025-06-07
#19 · Quote Reply

Don’t visit the fascist USA

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Sunshine piefed.ca Sunshine@piefed.ca
Joined: 2025-06-07
#20 · Quote Reply

He asked for a lawyer. He was denied, repeatedly.

This case is sketchy as hell!

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zabadoh ani.social zabadoh@ani.social
Joined: 2023-11-19
#21 · Quote Reply

Don’t visit the fascist USA

Well, at least don't visit the fascist parts, which aren't all that nice anyway.

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birdwing lemmy.blahaj.zone birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone
Joined: 2025-08-19
#22 · Quote Reply

they’ll also support Motorola. Motorola (the company whose name and reputation has been well known for decades) no longer exists. Its successor is called Motorola Solutions, and it's not the company making the upcoming GrapheneOS phone. That device is coming from Motorola Mobility, which is a completely separate company, owned by China's Lenovo. thus making me wonder whether the Chinese governm...

Honestly, it'd be nice if Fairphone had better security. If that were the case I think there's not much of a question what to pick.

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quick_snail feddit.nl quick_snail@feddit.nl
Joined: 2025-07-15
#23 · Quote Reply

Article doesn't load. Please don't link to the NY Times

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quick_snail feddit.nl quick_snail@feddit.nl
Joined: 2025-07-15
#24 · Quote Reply

So exactly how long do you think you are supposed to stay silent before the cops decide your magically free to go, or in your fantasy land, they begrudgingly let you speak to a lawyer? Is it before or after the wrench method of obtaining passwords comes into play?

Usually it just takes hours to weeks.

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quick_snail feddit.nl quick_snail@feddit.nl
Joined: 2025-07-15
#25 · Quote Reply

Removepaywall

That site doesn't work either

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eleitl lemmy.zip eleitl@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-05
#26 · Quote Reply

Paywall.

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zabadoh ani.social zabadoh@ani.social
Joined: 2023-11-19
#27 · (edited) Quote Reply

That site doesn't work either

Try Option 2, 3, or 4.

Only Option 2 works for me

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deliriousdreams fedia.io deliriousdreams@fedia.io
Joined: 2025-11-01
#28 · Quote Reply

That's where shutting the fuck up becomes a matter of survival. Give them nothing until your lawyer gets there.

I too am a proponent of "shut the fuck up" Friday, but Border Control (ICE) can just detain you and have you asking for a lawyer for days or weeks while denying you that right? I find that incredibly concerning.

Shutting up would have helped him in the event that he eventually did get a lawyer, but on the other hand, this isn't just a case of a regular police department holding a guy. They were on a fishing expendition and they literally denied him his right to a lawyer.

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Archangel1313 lemmy.ca Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-06-03
#29 · Quote Reply

I too am a proponent of "shut the fuck up" Friday, but Border Control (ICE) can just detain you and have you asking for a lawyer for days or weeks while denying you that right? I find that incredibly concerning. Shutting up would have helped him in the event that he eventually did get a lawyer, but on the other hand, this isn't just a case of a regular police department holding a guy. They were...

Not talking to the cops isn't the "right" that's protected by due process. The right to due process itself, is. Not talking to the cops is just the one thing you can do to protect yourself from potentially giving them more information to use against you.

Obviously, if they're going to beat the shit out of you for not talking...tell them whatever will make them stop. Self-preservation is your first priority.

But, unfortunately, if they don't respect your rights in the first place, then they're going to do whatever they want with you, anyway. For all you know, if what you say doesn't hurt you, it may end hurting someone else instead. So, talking to them can only make things worse in the long run. You helping them, doesn't help you or anyone else.

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quick_snail feddit.nl quick_snail@feddit.nl
Joined: 2025-07-15
#30 · (edited) Quote Reply

Try Option 2, 3, or 4. Only Option 2 works for me

Try it in a text based browser or security hardened browser. It just redirects to a site that does nothing.

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Phoenixz lemmy.ca phoenixz@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-10
#31 · Quote Reply

Well, at least don't visit the fascist parts, which aren't all that nice anyway.

So don't visit any of it, then?

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Zedd_Prophecy lemmy.world Zedd_Prophecy@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-22
#32 · Quote Reply

I too am a proponent of "shut the fuck up" Friday, but Border Control (ICE) can just detain you and have you asking for a lawyer for days or weeks while denying you that right? I find that incredibly concerning. Shutting up would have helped him in the event that he eventually did get a lawyer, but on the other hand, this isn't just a case of a regular police department holding a guy. They were...

He would have gotten himself a physical beating or detained indefinitely. We have no rights at the moment.

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Krusty quokk.au Krusty@quokk.au
Joined: 2026-05-03
#33 · Quote Reply

Out of curiosity, what is weird about it?

Go read a book.

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deliriousdreams fedia.io deliriousdreams@fedia.io
Joined: 2025-11-01
#34 · Quote Reply

Go read a book.

Which book?

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Krusty quokk.au Krusty@quokk.au
Joined: 2026-05-03
#35 · Quote Reply

Which book?

How to win Friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie

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far_university1990 reddthat.com far_university1990@reddthat.com
Joined: 2023-08-15
#36 · Quote Reply

How to win Friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie

If we had friend we would not be here.

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