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Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

nytimes.com

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Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#61

Post by drvdevd »

makecheck wrote: post #51
jliptzin wrote: post #21

Don't be fooled, Canadian border patrol proudly engages in this as well. I was recently driving across the border to Montreal on vacation when Canadian border agents, in addition to searching my car and personal belongings, demanded to see my cell phone and turn over the password. I simply asked why, since I didn't think I was doing anything suspicious, at which point the agent angrily responded "because I can and no…

I’ve always found it ridiculous that the content of devices is fair game. There is literally nothing on a phone that couldn’t be digitally downloaded after crossing the border (therefore no “threat” by bringing the phone with you). Similarly, there is no possible way to harm an airplane based on what is present on a laptop; and even if there were, you could buy in-flight WiFi and download the bits after boarding. You…

Right - and apparently this is exactly what you should do. Always travel with throwaway and/or wiped devices. Don't trust a device that's been seized and returned.

Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#62

Post by pasbesoin »

OT but pertaining to increasing frictions at/across borders.

I'm in the U.S. Today -- for the first time in quite some time -- I went to the post office to mail a small box to an old friend in Belgium. Five paperback books and an inexpensive ceramic dish with a catchy/inspiring quote on it. $38 worth of gifts. Weighed in at 3 lbs, 10 oz.

I'm used to being able to mail something like that for, I don't know, $15 -$20. Maybe $25.

Today, the cheapest option they have for such a thing is "first class". $50. For less than four pounds, in a small cardboard box.

The postal clerk told me she herself has been shocked by the increases. The supposed explanation: "Security."

As I commented elsewhere, it's almost like they don't want us to have international family and friends, anymore.

Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#63

Post by pumblechook »

nostromo wrote: post #3

I'm so embarrassed how America treats people entering the U.S. It's the first experience foreigners have in our country, and we make it one of the worst experiences in the developed world. Industries that benefit from tourism should lobby the Federal Government to improve the travel experience to, from, and within the US. I personally would fly at least a few more times a year if the TSA/CBP process treated people wi…

Appalled is probably a better word. I'm not sure how the process is now (I got Global Entry, which pretty much short cuts the entire horrible experience), but I remember coming back into the country as an American citizen and being appalled at not only how difficult the process was as a citizen, but how unfriendly it was to non-citizens.

Not only was a lot of the signage and printed instructions only in English, the customs officers were down right berating people in English (many of whom obviously didn't speak English) for things they had no way of knowing, like standing in the proper line, because they couldn't read or speak English. In many cases the customs officer would simply lead people (who had no idea where they were going) into a line, then leave. The wait for translators was hours in some cases. And if you were lucky enough to get through customs, you were rushed through another security line and required to put your bags on one of five conveyer belts to the bowels of the airport to be screened AGAIN (even if you weren't taking a connecting flight). Only you had no idea which belt you were supposed to choose because there was no signage, only a scant few attendants yelling out which belt you were supposed to put your bags on (in English, of course) while streams of people rushed by.

Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#64

Post by tempestn »

jliptzin wrote: post #21

Don't be fooled, Canadian border patrol proudly engages in this as well. I was recently driving across the border to Montreal on vacation when Canadian border agents, in addition to searching my car and personal belongings, demanded to see my cell phone and turn over the password. I simply asked why, since I didn't think I was doing anything suspicious, at which point the agent angrily responded "because I can and no…

I think that settles it. I was already considering this before, but now I'm actually going to do it. Before crossing the border, I'm rooting my phone so I can take a full disk image, which I'll leave at home. Then I'll factory reset and just load what I need for the trip^. It's a pain, but worth it to avoid the chance of this kind of invasion of privacy.

^Can make an image of that too for ease of use on future trips.

Of course, if they can do this, there's nothing really stopping them from forcing you to log into your webmail either, so maybe there's nothing you can ultimately do. (At least short of creating elaborate decoy accounts, but then you're actively lying to them, which probably isn't a great idea.)

Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#65

Post by edblarney »

exolymph wrote: post #50
jliptzin wrote: post #21

Don't be fooled, Canadian border patrol proudly engages in this as well. I was recently driving across the border to Montreal on vacation when Canadian border agents, in addition to searching my car and personal belongings, demanded to see my cell phone and turn over the password. I simply asked why, since I didn't think I was doing anything suspicious, at which point the agent angrily responded "because I can and no…

> I asked what would happen if I didn't turn the password over and just went back home to the US, they told me they'd seize the device and put me in prison until they break into it. I guess it depends on how much you care about your personal info or how sensitive your data is, but I wouldn't budge based on this. I'd say, "Okay, I want to talk to the American embassy," then wait it out. Edit: To be clear, this would b…

" I'd say, "Okay, I want to talk to the American embassy," then wait it out."

You'd be waiting forever.

Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#67

Post by dopamean »

jb1991 wrote: post #48
jliptzin wrote: post #21

Don't be fooled, Canadian border patrol proudly engages in this as well. I was recently driving across the border to Montreal on vacation when Canadian border agents, in addition to searching my car and personal belongings, demanded to see my cell phone and turn over the password. I simply asked why, since I didn't think I was doing anything suspicious, at which point the agent angrily responded "because I can and no…

Some friends of mine were turned back at the border because they didn't make advance reservations for a hotel and therefore prove their trip really was legit.

This isn't that uncommon. I nearly had this happen to me traveling to Europe years ago. I wasn't sure where I was going to stay and didn't book a hotel. It was a problem at customs. I believe the same can be true if you don't book a return flight.

Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#68

Post by rdtsc »

nostromo wrote: post #3

I'm so embarrassed how America treats people entering the U.S. It's the first experience foreigners have in our country, and we make it one of the worst experiences in the developed world. Industries that benefit from tourism should lobby the Federal Government to improve the travel experience to, from, and within the US. I personally would fly at least a few more times a year if the TSA/CBP process treated people wi…

I entered US as a non-citizen and citizen many times, and yeah it is not pretty. It largely depends on where you enter though.

The experience that made most upset is when my parents were leaving and I was saying goodbye to them. They are in their 70s and don't speak much English. My mom was trying to say thank you and smile at the ticket agent. And he marked her ticked with a bunch of red "S" letters. I knew what that meant.

Next thing, I was helplessly watching my parents being harassed by TSA agents, a bunch 20 year old punks. They were pulling and tugging at them, my mom almost in tears not understanding what they want from them. Made them empty all the luggage and such.

The thing is they are used to that treatment but just in their country not here What upset them is that they had to lower their expectation of how this country treats its visitors as well.

Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#69

Post by [deleted] »

DrJokepu wrote: post #59
exolymph wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I asked what would happen if I didn't turn the password over and just went back home to the US, they told me they'd seize the device and put me in prison until they break into it. I guess it depends on how much you care about your personal info or how sensitive your data is, but I wouldn't budge based on this. I'd say, "Okay, I want to talk to the American embassy," then wait it out. Edit: To be clear, this would b…

Is this a right you have in Canada? Can't they just be like "yeah, no"?

[deleted]

Re: Canadian journalist's detention at US border raises press freedom alarms

#70

Post by makecheck »

nostromo wrote: post #3

I'm so embarrassed how America treats people entering the U.S. It's the first experience foreigners have in our country, and we make it one of the worst experiences in the developed world. Industries that benefit from tourism should lobby the Federal Government to improve the travel experience to, from, and within the US. I personally would fly at least a few more times a year if the TSA/CBP process treated people wi…

I recently was in the Houston airport and encountered a surprisingly tiny security checkpoint with an insane number of TSA officers. There were so few passengers, it felt like it was almost 2:1 passengers to officers. And it was the slowest, rudest, stupidest travel experience yet.

How can so many employees be so incredibly inefficient!? For some, it was pretty obvious: they were just standing around doing literally nothing while people were clearly frustrated by lines that did not move for long periods of time. Some of the “officers” were wandering the area with no apparent end goal. One (as usual) was bellowing ridiculous instructions with fear-of-death seriousness: a job that any sane manager should have eliminated years ago to save money.

And every time, it freaks me out: I don’t want my laptop stolen (say) but there is zero attention paid to the people walking up and walking away with bags from the conveyor belt on the other side, and when the line grows longer and longer I CAN’T go over there and keep adequate watch on my things. Invariably, my bag and stuff makes it through LONG before I do and I just have to hope it hasn’t disappeared.

The entire system is insane. Every Last Rule they introduced based on some random threat or other is pointless. The only thing worse than these pointless rules is knowing that these employees will freak the hell out over every violation of their pointless rules, while completely ignoring real threats.

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