Miranda coerced into giving up passwords

David Miranda, the cohort of the partner Glenn Greenwald at the heart of the Edward Snowden NSA surveillance firestorm, was coerced into giving up his passwords for digital files ceased when he stopped in London on his way to the U.S. Miranda was stopped and interrogated by British police during a stopover at Heathrow airport while flying from Germany back to his and Greenwald's home in Brazil at the Guardian's expense.

"They were threatening me all the time and saying I would be put in jail if I didn't co-operate," said Miranda. "They treated me like I was a criminal or someone about to attack the UK ... It was exhausting and frustrating, but I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong."

He was extensively quizzed about his visit to Berlin-based filmmaker Laura Poitras, the activities of his partner Glenn Greenwald, and if there were plans to publish more papers from the NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Threatened with prison if he refused, Miranda said that he was forced to hand over the passwords for his laptop and mobile phone.