Hi. I’m the guy that is mentioned on the article. Also, this is the twitter thread I’ve been replying to the comments and giving the side of story that really happened, but I’m glad some many here jumped immediately to your own conclusions. https://x.com/vd/status/1707039573874823435?s=61&t=jpPSDpODa...

So to address some of doubts;

- I was stopped by security because of other elements I had with me, a cork screwer (that was the flag), lock picking tools and watch opening tools. All electronic devices were ok, the laptop, phone, tablet, flipper zero and wifi module.

- During the search, the security officer took everything out of my bag and inside there was the white/orange flipper zero, in its original case, turned off. He put that on the table whilst searched the backpack.

- So the flipper zero was on the table, and along comes the security supervisor and what she said was “oh look at what we have here”

- She asked me if I knew what that was; I said yes

- She asked me if I knew what that thing does; I said yes. I’m a security researcher, I use it for my work and will be using it abroad.

- Now for those that don’t know, I do work in security and the flipper zero is legal in the UK (I was travelling from London Gatwick)

- She took them my boarding pass details and passport, as she told me she had to have a chat with the head of security.

- After that both came to talk to me and asked the same questions; do I know what that is (I said again yes and only yes). do I know what that does (I said yes, and again only yes and then told them I use that for work).

- They replied that because it can read and copy their ID badges, I cannot have in on my hand luggage (I was just carrying my backpack).

- I replied; “but I need that for my work, it’s not illegal and yes, can read your badges, but not only that and that’s not illegal”

- They argued that because it’s a threat to the airport systems, it’s not permitted in hand luggage, but I can have it on the holt.

- I then told them “I don’t have other baggage and I only carry the backpack with my equipment with me”

- Then that was the moment I decided to step back and tell them “ok, so you can it and can I have it back on my return?”

- The answer was “no. you cannot and we’ll seize the equipment”

- I asked if I can remove the sdcard, which I did

- Then I replied that “if this device can read your cards, then you really must update your security systems, because it’s a legal device and the problem isn’t the device but your security”

ps: just to add, this wasn’t the first time the flipper zero travelled with me. but it was the first time it was outside of my backpack (because of the security flag of the cork screwer). I’ve been travelling with the flipper zero across Europe without any issues, just now someone ‘saw’ it (the security supervisor, the guy searching the backpack was clueless about the device) and flag it against the threat for the airport (id badge scanning).

Hope that helps better understand the situation and hopefully addresses the comments and speculation about me, what I said, did and what they replied.