Incident Database

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General

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Took place after

Took place before

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State

Targeted any of these journalists

Targeted institutions

Has any of these tags

Case number

Legal case statuses

Type of case

Arrest/Criminal Charge

Arrest status

Status of charges

Charges

Unnecessary use of force?

Yes

No

Arresting authority

Assault

Assailant

Was journalist targeted?

Unknown

Yes

No

Border Stop

Border point

Stopped previously?

Yes

No

Target nationality

US citizenship status

Denied entry?

Yes

No

Did authorities ask intrusive questions about journalist's work?

Unknown

Yes

No

Did authorities ask for device access?

Unknown

Yes

No

Denial of Access

Government agency or public official involved

Type of denial

Equipment Damage

Equipment broken

Actor

Equipment Search or Seizure

Status of equipment

Equipment searched or seized

Search warrant obtained?

Yes

No

Leak Case

Alleged recipient of leak

Charged under Espionage Act?

Yes

No

Prior Restraint

Status of prior restraint

Mistakenly released materials?

Yes

No

Subpoena/Legal Order

Legal order type

Legal order target

Information requested in legal order

Legal order status

Legal order venue

Third party business

2,746 incidents recorded

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Incident

Incident Details

Category Details

Filmmaker forced to unlock phone at U.S.-Canada border crossing

Incident Details

Date of incident: January 1, 2017
Location: Lewiston, New York
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Akram Shibly (Independent)
Case status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border point →: Lewiston-Queenston Bridge
Target nationality →: United States
US citizenship status of target →: U.S. citizen
Denied entry? →: No
Stopped previously? →: No
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Unknown

Equipment searched or seized →: Cellphone, 1
Status of equipment →: Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →: No

Journalist alleges phone data copied, sent to CIA during Assange interviews

Incident Details

Updated on: May 23, 2025
Date of incident: January 2017
Location: London, England
Case number: 1:22-cv-06913
Targets: John Goetz (NDR)
Case status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Equipment searched or seized →: Work product, 1
Status of equipment →: In custody
Search warrant obtained →: No

Reporter alleges phone data copied, sent to CIA during Assange interviews

Incident Details

Updated on: May 23, 2025
Date of incident: January 2017
Location: London, England
Case number: 1:22-cv-06913
Targets: Charles Glass (Freelance)
Case status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Equipment searched or seized →: Work product, 1
Status of equipment →: In custody
Search warrant obtained →: No

Journalist Adam Schrader arrested at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Updated on: February 5, 2025
Date of incident: October 27, 2016
Location: Morton County, North Dakota
Targets: Adam Schrader ([New York] Daily News)

Arrest status →: Arrested and released
Arresting authority →: Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →: Endangerment: endangering by fire or explosion

Oct. 17, 2016: Charges pending

Nov. 1, 2016: Charges dropped

Obstruction: maintaining a public nuisance

Oct. 27, 2016: Charges pending

Aug. 21, 2017: Charges dropped

Rioting: engaging in a riot

Oct. 27, 2016: Charges pending

Aug. 21, 2017: Charges dropped
Detention date →: October 27, 2016
Release date →: October 29, 2016
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Equipment searched or seized →: Recording equipment, 1

Work product, 1
Status of equipment →: Unknown
Search warrant obtained →: No

Equipment damaged →: Recording equipment, 1

Work product, 1
Actor →: Law enforcement

Sara Lafleur-Vetter arrested, charged with three misdemeanors at Standing Rock

Incident Details

Date of incident: October 22, 2016
Location: Morton County, North Dakota
Targets: Sara Lafleur-Vetter (The Guardian)

Arrest status →: Arrested and released
Arresting authority →: Morton County Sheriff's Department
Charges →: Rioting: disobedience of safety orders during a riot

May 17, 2017: Charges pending

Oct. 18, 2017: Acquitted

Obstruction: disorderly conduct

May 17, 2017: Charges pending

Oct. 18, 2017: Acquitted

Obstruction: physical obstruction of a government function

May 17, 2017: Charges pending

Oct. 18, 2017: Acquitted

Rioting: engaging in a riot

Oct. 22, 2016: Charges pending

June 8, 2017: Charges dropped

Trespassing: criminal trespass

Oct. 22, 2016: Charges pending

June 8, 2017: Charges dropped
Detention date →: November 22, 2017
Release date →: November 24, 2017
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Equipment searched or seized →: Camera, 1

Storage device, 8
Status of equipment →: Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →: No

Citizen journalist Nydia Tisdale arrested and attacked by police officer while filming rally

Incident Details

Date of incident: August 23, 2014
Location: Dawsonville, Georgia
Targets: Nydia Tisdale (Independent)

Arrest status →: Arrested and released
Arresting authority →: Dawson County Sheriff’s Office
Charges →: Trespassing

Aug. 23, 2014: Charges pending

Dec. 4, 2017: Acquitted

Obstruction: obstruction of a law enforcement officer

Aug. 23, 2014: Charges pending

Dec. 4, 2017: Convicted

Obstruction

Aug. 23, 2014: Charges pending

Dec. 4, 2017: Acquitted
Unnecessary use of force? →: Yes

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Equipment searched or seized →: Camera, 1
Status of equipment →: Returned in full
Search warrant obtained →: No

Equipment damaged →: Work product, 1
Actor →: Law enforcement