An Apple employee was allegedly illegally harassed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) while passing through Customs. Andreas Gal, founder of Silk Labs, an AI startup acquired by Apple, says he was asked for the passwords to his Apple-issued phone and computer.
When he asked to speak with a lawyer, due to the contents being covered by a nondisclosure agreement, CBP officials reportedly refused. Instead, Gal was threatened with prosecution.
A complaint about the incident was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California. It notes that:
“Critically, Dr. Gal never refused to provide the passcodes to access the electronic devices in his possession; he only asked that he be allowed to consult with an attorney to ensure that he would not violate nondisclosure agreements with his employer. In the interactions with CBP officers, Dr. Gal repeated many times that he would comply with any legal requirement, but that he needed to consult with an attorney to understand his rights before he could do so.”
ACLU takes issue with Gal’s ‘baseless detention’
Gal was released without charge and in possession of his Apple-issued devices. However, he had his Global Entry card confiscated. He was also told that he would be removed from the expedited screening program. This allows previously vetted fliers to use special lanes at the checkpoint in airports. In doing so, it can greatly speed up their ability to get through security.
The ACLU says that the “baseless detention” of Gal and attempted search of his devices violated his Fourth Amendment rights. It additionally argues that CBP’s policies lack protections for First Amendment rights by allowing interrogation and device searches based on factors such as a traveler’s nation of origin or political beliefs.
Before starting Silk Labs, Andreas Gal was the Chief Technology Officer at Mozilla.
Source: Fast Company
