Intent matters in a court of law. A judge or a jury will consider:
- did you intend for the data to be destroyed in an eventual search?
- probably yes, because you went to the trouble to set up a duress password
- is it reasonably that you mixed up the two passwords? No, because only an idiot would make them similar and you're clearly no idiot, because you were able to set up a phone with a duress password.
- hence, you intentionally made the officer wipe your data, and you will be held liable.
It doesn't make any difference if the destroyed potential evidence is physical or digital.
The law as written is stupid, but that does not mean courts are stupid.
It is rather funny to look at how some programmers believe they can "trick" the law. It does not work like computer code!
