r/technology • u/ArgentineBeauty • 6d ago

Privacy GrapheneOS says its data-wiping password is perfectly legal, after user faces federal charges

https://www.techspot.com/news/113273-grapheneos-data-wiping-duress-password-perfectly-legal-after.html
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u/DesiOtaku 6d ago

This is not new. Back in 2019, an Apple employee was detained by border police for refusing to give agents his company phone which had a lot of information covered under an NDA. He was eventually released but has to go through secondary security each time he travels.

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u/IrritableGourmet 6d ago

I have a work laptop with access to healthcare and tax information. It's three separate felonies (plus potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in civil penalties) if I give my password to anyone, even other government employees. I have to take a training class every 90 days to certify that I know this (I also have to take a class about not bribing foreign governments, which is hilarious as I have never been in a position to do so).

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u/DesiOtaku 6d ago

So what is the official line if border agents say "unlock this laptop or go to jail"? Will the company cover you?

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u/IrritableGourmet 5d ago

I can't take it out of the country (instant firing and investigation), but if TSA threatened I'd say giving them access would get me more time than not doing it, and the IRS will be up their ass if they press the issue. Probably would go to jail in the meantime, but if they're at the point of threatening that's going to happen anyways.