U.S. Press Freedom Tracker

Incident Database

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7 incidents recorded

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Incident
Incident Details
Category Details

Editor’s laptop, cellphone seized following publication of courtroom recording

Incident Details

Date of Incident
October 28, 2022
Location
Waverly, Ohio
Targets
Derek Myers (Scioto Valley Guardian)
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
In custody
Search Warrant Obtained →
Yes
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal Orders →
Legal Order Target →
Journalist
Legal Order Venue →
State

Devices illegally seized in investigation of reporter’s murder, Review-Journal argues

Incident Details

Updated On
January 25, 2023
Date of Incident
September 2022
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
Case number
A-22-859361-C
Targets
Jeff German (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Case Status
Ongoing
Type of case
Civil
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
In custody
Search Warrant Obtained →
Yes
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal Orders →
Legal Order Target →
Journalist
Legal Order Venue →
State

Independent photographer stopped for secondary screening, devices seized

Incident Details

Date of Incident
June 28, 2019
Location
Detroit, Michigan
Targets
Tim Stegmaier

Border Stop

Border Point →
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Stopped at border? →
Yes
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked to display social media? →
Unknown
Asked for social media passwords? →
Unknown
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

San Francisco police use search warrant to raid home, office of independent journalist

Incident Details

Updated On
May 26, 2020
Date of Incident
May 10, 2019
Location
San Francisco, California
Targets
Bryan Carmody (North Bay News)
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
Yes
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Detained and released without being processed
Arresting Authority →
San Francisco Police Department
Unnecessary use of force? →
No

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal Orders →
Legal Order Target →
Journalist
Legal Order Venue →
State

Minneapolis journalist arrested while covering protest

Incident Details

Date of Incident
June 17, 2017
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Targets
Susan Du (City Pages)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Minnesota State Patrol
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

BBC journalist questioned by US border agents, devices searched

Incident Details

Date of Incident
May 18, 2017
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Targets
Ali Hamedani (BBC News)

Border Stop

Border Point →
O'Hare International Airport
Stopped at border? →
Yes
Target Nationality →
US Citizenship Status of Target →
U.S. non-resident
Denied Entry? →
No
Stopped Previously? →
No
Asked for device access? →
Yes
Asked to display social media? →
Yes
Asked for social media passwords? →
No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →
Unknown
Were devices searched or seized? →
Yes
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Reporter Jack Smith IV charged with obstruction at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated On
February 1, 2018
Date of Incident
February 22, 2017
Location
Morton County, North Dakota
Targets
Jack Smith IV (Mic)

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest Status →
Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →
Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →
Unnecessary use of force? →
No
Equipment Seized →
Status of Seized Equipment →
Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →
No
Actor who seized equipment →
Law enforcement

Equipment Damage

Equipment Broken →