DHS claimed it searched a wiped GrapheneOS phone for CSAM. 404 Media shows it lied
cdrnsf · hn · 2026-10-21
404 Media reports that DHS claimed it searched a man's wiped GrapheneOS phone for child abuse material — an assertion the outlet's follow-up reporting shows was false.
- The case centers on a phone running GrapheneOS, whose security design makes wiped data unrecoverable
- DHS's claims conflict with the actual technical capabilities, exposing overstated or false statements by law enforcement on encryption
- The story sparked HN discussion on device encryption, privacy rights, and the limits of government searches
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