Blumenthal sues DHS over seized phones and data copies
Journalist fights to claw back every copy of his phones after DHS border seizure while feds claim the case is already over.
DHS took Max Blumenthal's devices at the border, made copies of their contents, and returned the hardware. Blumenthal sued for full data destruction. Government argues the suit is moot. Court must decide if copies still count as ongoing harm.
Why these scores — Court docket and Blumenthal's public filings confirm the seizure and data-copy demand. Side A cites general privacy stats without case-specific evidence. Side B points to docket entries showing retained copies. No bot amplification detected; volume driven by journalist's existing audience.
Border agents grabbed Max Blumenthal's phones, copied the drives, and sent him on his way. Months later the data still sits on government servers while he sues to force its deletion.
Blumenthal's lawyers say any retained copy keeps the seizure alive and violates Fourth Amendment protections. DHS counters that the phones were returned and the investigation closed, so no live controversy remains for a judge to fix.
The case now turns on whether copied data equals continued possession. Both sides lean on precedent rather than new facts, leaving the district court to sort out what 'return' actually means in a digital age.
Government border searches too often become fishing expeditions; courts must force deletion of copies to deter routine overreach.
- @propandco✓ verified“US govt violates citizen privacy too often; must be challenged after device seizure and data copies.”
Lawsuit stays live until DHS proves no data remains; partial return of hardware does not erase the constitutional injury.
- @MaxBlumenthal✓ verified“Lawsuit against DHS Secretary not moot; demand return of all information and data from phones.”
Read it straight — Read the actual complaint and DHS motion to dismiss side by side before accepting either summary.