An Appeals Court panel has ruled that federal agents can legally search through travelers’ cell phones without reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or a warrant when they cross an international border.
What’s to stop you from factory re-setting your phone when you approach the border? You can sync it back up once you’ve cleared security.
Careful, that’s destruction of evidence even if the CBP does it for you.
I wonder if you don’t take your phone if they consider that suspicious.
Burner phones it is then.
Blank phone could also be suspicious.
“Phone? What? I’m rich. I don’t carry a Slave Square.”
They probably do
For certain definitions of “legal”, given that the fourth amendment makes no such allowance.
Oh boy, do I have bad news for you…this is nothing new
This is disappointing, but not surprising in the slightest. However, this could be far more concerning than “mere” privacy violations. This lays groundwork for the ability of the US government to restrict flow of information physically stored on electronic devices into the territory they occupy. Though logistically complicated, I would certainly not put it past a fascist regime to implement such a policy and it would be disconcertingly easy to hide such a policy.
Anyone selling cheap burner phones to use exclusively for border issues like this? I’d rather not use my actual phone but I don’t think I can travel without one.
Ebay, or whatever equivalent in your country.
You could also back it up, wipe it, then restore it afterwards. Or if your phone supports multiple profiles, set up a secondary one with minimal apps and social media. Just don’t like them take it, because they can still Cellebrite you in that state.
