# GrapheneOS says its data-wiping "duress" password is perfectly legal, after user faces federal charges *Canonical page:* https://truthscore.com/source/e6f54b7d *Machine twins:* https://truthscore.com/source/e6f54b7d.md · JSON at https://truthscore.com/api/v1 Publisher: TechSpot · published 2026-07-29 · read 2026-08-03 Original: https://www.techspot.com/news/113273-grapheneos-data-wiping-duress-password-perfectly-legal-after.html *A source is testimony, not proof. The document itself is never republished here.* ## Who is named (7) - [Sam Tunick](https://truthscore.com/entity/1d36b321) - [U.S. Customs and Border Protection](https://truthscore.com/entity/2732edf0) - [Google Pixel phones](https://truthscore.com/entity/9716a67f) - [duress password](https://truthscore.com/entity/b4e91543) - [GrapheneOS Foundation](https://truthscore.com/entity/ef890ee0) - [US Department of Justice](https://truthscore.com/entity/f034d22a) - [GrapheneOS](https://truthscore.com/entity/f85938f4) ## What it added - [The US Department of Justice brought a case against a GrapheneOS user.](https://truthscore.com/claim/c8b70e6f) > the recently unveiled case brought by the US Department of Justice against a GrapheneOS user - [The GrapheneOS Foundation joined the debate about privacy and operational security on mobile devices.](https://truthscore.com/claim/ac9c72a0) > The GrapheneOS Foundation has joined that debate, reaffirming some key points about the operating system's security features and whether previously deleted data can ever be recovered. - [The operating system that got Sam Tunick prosecuted by the US government has nothing to do with unlawful practices.](https://truthscore.com/claim/cf5c0f82) > According to the GrapheneOS Foundation, the operating system that got Sam Tunick prosecuted by the US government has nothing to do with unlawful practices. - [The GrapheneOS Foundation has no obligation to weaken GrapheneOS features designed to improve user and data security.](https://truthscore.com/claim/b9a3839d) > The foundation says it has no obligation to weaken GrapheneOS features designed to improve user and data security. - [The Android-based OS is protected by the US Constitution, meaning no one can (theoretically) be prosecuted for creating, developing, or even using the platform…](https://truthscore.com/claim/dab9d279) > The Android-based OS, it argues, is protected by the US Constitution, meaning no one can (theoretically) be prosecuted for creating, developing, or even using the platform on their devices. - [Any new law designed to make the software or its security features illegal would likely be unconstitutional.](https://truthscore.com/claim/61ccfc95) > The foundation also believes any new law designed to make the software or its security features illegal would likely be unconstitutional. - [Once data has been wiped from a GrapheneOS-powered phone, there is no way to recover any of it.](https://truthscore.com/claim/d962266d) > Similarly, the organization confirmed that once data has been wiped from a GrapheneOS-powered phone, there's no way to recover any of it. - [The software and compatible hardware (Google Pixel phones) is designed specifically to prevent attempts to bypass or tamper with data encryption.](https://truthscore.com/claim/d66185a9) > The software, and the hardware it's compatible with (Google Pixel phones for now) is designed specifically to prevent attempts to bypass or tamper with data encryption. - [Tunick provided a US Customs and Border Protection officer with a duress password, and when used to forcibly unlock a phone the duress password wipes all data…](https://truthscore.com/claim/88bd58e7) > Tunick ran into trouble after providing a US Customs and Border Protection officer with a "duress password," one of GrapheneOS' options for strengthening a user's right to privacy. Once used to forcibly unlock a phone, the duress password/PIN wipes all data on the device, including eSIM content. The process happens instantly, can't be stopped, and it's irreversible. - [The GrapheneOS Foundation has tried to downplay the importance of duress passwords for the platform's security, saying the feature is just a minor option…](https://truthscore.com/claim/f191c8d0) > The GrapheneOS Foundation has since tried to downplay the importance of duress passwords for the platform's security. The feature, the organization said, is just a minor option within a much broader security model. - [The border agent failed to read Tunick his Miranda rights and ignored his requests to speak with a lawyer.](https://truthscore.com/claim/7238fffa) > The lawyer representing Tunick against the US government said the border agent failed to read Tunick his Miranda rights, as required, and ignored his requests to speak with a lawyer. - [The lawyer is trying to get a US judge to dismiss all evidence recovered in the case, arguing that Tunick's constitutional rights were violated.](https://truthscore.com/claim/656edad7) > The lawyer is now trying to get a US judge to dismiss all evidence recovered in the case, arguing that Tunick's constitutional rights were violated. - [GrapheneOS posted a tweet on July 27, 2026.](https://truthscore.com/claim/3d4141a2) > – GrapheneOS (@GrapheneOS) July 27, 2026 ## What it cost Reading this document into the graph cost <$0.01.