Incident Database

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Unnecessary use of force?

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Unknown
Yes
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Stopped previously?

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Did authorities ask intrusive questions about journalist's work?

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Did authorities ask for device access?

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Were devices searched or seized?

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Did authorities ask for social media username?

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No

Did authorities ask for social media password?

Unknown
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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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15 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 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

Student photojournalist stopped at US-Mexico border for secondary screening

Incident Details

Updated On: November 20, 2019
Date of Incident: December 29, 2018
Location: San Diego, California
Case number: 1:19-cv-06570
Targets: Bing Guan (Independent)
Case Status: Ongoing
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: San Ysidro Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: No
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? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Camera, 1
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Photojournalist stopped at US-Mexico border for secondary screening

Incident Details

Updated On: November 20, 2019
Date of Incident: December 29, 2018
Location: San Diego, California
Case number: 1:19-cv-06570
Targets: Go Nakamura (Freelance)
Case Status: Ongoing
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: San Ysidro Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: No
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? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Camera, 1
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

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 Point →: O'Hare International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: Iran

United Kingdom
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 →: Cellphone, 1

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

Photojournalist detained at US-Canadian border ordered to delete images on camera

Incident Details

Date of Incident: September 4, 2017
Location: Highgate, Vermont
Targets: Terry J. Allen (In These Times)

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

Equipment Seized →: Camera, 1
Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Equipment Damage

Al Jazeera journalist stopped and questioned at JFK airport

Incident Details

Date of Incident: May 23, 2018
Location: New York, New York
Targets: Mhamed Krichen (Al Jazeera)

Border Point →: John F. Kennedy International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: Tunisia
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? →: 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

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