Incident Database

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Targeted any of these journalists

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Unnecessary use of force?

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No

Arresting authority

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Was journalist targeted?

Unknown
Yes
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Border Stop

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Stopped previously?

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Denied entry?

Yes
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Did authorities ask intrusive questions about journalist's work?

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Yes
No

Did authorities ask for device access?

Unknown
Yes
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Were devices searched or seized?

Unknown
Yes
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Did authorities ask for social media username?

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Yes
No

Did authorities ask for social media password?

Unknown
Yes
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Government agency or public official involved

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Search warrant obtained?

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Leak Case

Targets whose communications were obtained in leak investigation

Charged under espionage act?

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18 incidents recorded

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Incident

Incident Details

Category Details

Journalist questioned at Dulles International Airport

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: January 3, 2017
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Isma’il Kushkush
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Dulles International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: Sudan

United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
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 →: Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Journalist, graduate student stopped for secondary screening, electronic devices searched

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: March 5, 2017
Location: Toronto, Canada
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Zainab Merchant (Independent)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Toronto Pearson International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
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

Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Journalist, graduate student stopped again for secondary screening

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: September 16, 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Targets: Zainab Merchant

Border Point →: Orlando International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: No
Asked to display social media? →: No
Asked for social media passwords? →: No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →: No

Journalist stopped for secondary screening, cellphone searched

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: July 30, 2017
Location: Highgate Springs, Vermont
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Isma’il Kushkush
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Highgate Springs Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: Sudan

United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
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

Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Al Jazeera journalist stopped and questioned in Los Angeles airport

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 27, 2017
Location: Los Angeles, California
Targets: Ali Latifi (Al Jazeera)

Border Point →: Los Angeles International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: Afghanistan

United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked to display social media? →: No
Asked for social media passwords? →: No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

Filmmaker Saeed Taji Farouky has device taken and searched upon arrival in U.S.

Incident Details

Date of Incident: December 23, 2018
Location: Florida
Targets: Saeed Taji Farouky (Independent)

Border Point →: United Kingdom
Stopped at border? →: No
Target Nationality →: United Kingdom
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. non-resident
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
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 →: Cellphone, 1
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Journalist stopped at the border for the second time, camera searched

Incident Details

Date of Incident: January 26, 2019
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Targets: Manuel Rapalo

Border Point →: Washington, D.C.
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked to display social media? →: No
Asked for social media passwords? →: No
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →: Yes

Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Rolling Stone journalist stopped for secondary screening, has electronics searched while asked invasive questions about reporting

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 13, 2019
Location: Austin, Texas
Targets: Seth Harp (Rolling Stone)

Border Point →: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
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

Search Warrant Obtained →: No

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