Live data from Hacker News

A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

theverge.com

211–220 of 464 posts

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#211
post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll protect myself by refusing. They can detain me for as long as they want. I'll fight it in court, because I am a US citizen and god dammit they do not have the right to warrantlessly review my encrypted communications. If we've gone so far on the path towards authoritarianism that even citizens don't have rights, I'll just never come back in.

> I'll protect myself by refusing. They can detain me for as long as they want. I'll fight it in court, because I am a US citizen and god dammit they do not have the right to warrantlessly review my encrypted communications. While I don't agree it's a good thing, I think they do have the right to detain you indefinitely and/or search whatever they damn well please if it's on your person. I don't think asking for a pa…

> I don't think asking for a password that doesn't unlock a device in your possession would pass muster, but unlocking your phone would.

I don't think they can force me to give up my PIN. Not even a court can do that.

My rights as a citizen are indeed less, in that they can detain me in an attempt to force compliance. The thing is that it's never been fully tested. In all the cases I've reviewed, either the person relented or CBP eventually let them through.

If the detention lasted for days, their case would become harder and harder to make. Someone needs to make a stand.

> FYI, I think they have the same right to search you or hold you indefinitely on the way out as well.

Perhaps, but leaving is nowhere near as systematic. More importantly: if they were making giving up this info a condition of entry, I would refuse to enter. If they want to lock me up for that, I have a court case.

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#212
post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

See this -^ ? It's a new pseudonymous account. Unless your social network has some kind of insane policy where they only allow you to have a single identity you can use that kind of feature to compartmentalize your activities. Combine that with a phone that lets you have multiple users where you use one for banal activity which you can then show to Big Brother when he comes knocking. And others for anything important…

> To me having several pseudonyms and also using throwaways is part of standard information hygiene. I also have multiple email addresses, some are set to forward to others (one-way of course), others aren't. I don't know why people aren't teaching that to their children. For aliens (people entering under ESTA, visas, etc), you are compelled to reveal any aliases or pseudonyms you operate under. There's a two page do…

That must be new. It wasn't part of esta two years ago. I would be totally unable to produce all my aliases in all the services I have accounts. I wouldn't even be able to remember all the services.

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So how do you protect yourself? We need a "kill code" on secured devices: A separate password that silently resets the device to a saved state suggesting mild use and offering nothing of substance. Alarm systems have these: A code you only enter under duress, that looks like a regular disarm code, but silently summons help. So where are Apple and Google on something similar for our digital privacy?

IANAL, but I'm pretty sure that's destruction of evidence.

Evidence of what? Are you under arrest or a suspect?

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#215

For all of you guys recommending using fake accounts, do remember that right before christmas, Obama administration signed in new rules[1], giving NSA leeway to share their collected data with 16 other agencies, including DHS, which CBP falls under. So you may get caught if you try to pull these shenanigans off. US agencies are no strangers to mission creep when it come's to sharing data, as seen recently in this art…

None of what you said or quoted supports your claim (that making a second account for travel is a felony).

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#216
post #143
post #27

Note to self - bring burner phone for dodgy countries...like the US.

A few years ago, for foreign travel, one used to buy a new SIM card at one's destination. These days, I'm thinking I might just bring my SIM and buy a new phone at my destination.

If they have access to your sim they can probably reset your passwords and possibly get TFA via SMS to most social media and email accounts....

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#217
>"Not only is he a natural-born US citizen, but he’s also enrolled in Global Entry — a program through CBP that allows individuals who have undergone background checks to have expedited entry into the country."

Incredible. The TSA and DHS is basically "theater of the absurd". Every other disturbing detail aside, this individual actually paid good money to enroll in the Global Entry program only to be detained and humiliated by this agency.

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#218
post #10

Their point about how other countries will take the US's stance as a cue is somewhat scary. If you try and cross any border it will be relinquishing access to all accounts. I'm assuming email also comes along with 'social media', since communication is by its definition social. So how do you protect yourself? I think just going with "Don't have any social media" isn't a good answer because the relationship that child…

Within Europe (ps: as a European citizen) you can go anywhere with a personal identification card (no passport) and there are no border controls (when walking or driving). There isn't even a border, just a sign: welcome to $country (ps: and maybe local driving instructions). Say what you will about the EU, but this has been a great achievement. I can go through airport security between two EU countries and security w…

Within the states of US you can do the same ;) EU essentially wants to be United States of Europe. Though I'm not sure all EU states yet ready to surrender as much national sovereignty as US states did.

And what anything of this has to do with homophobia?

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#219

For all of you guys recommending using fake accounts, do remember that right before christmas, Obama administration signed in new rules[1], giving NSA leeway to share their collected data with 16 other agencies, including DHS, which CBP falls under. So you may get caught if you try to pull these shenanigans off. US agencies are no strangers to mission creep when it come's to sharing data, as seen recently in this art…

None of what you said or quoted supports your claim (that making a second account for travel is a felony).

You are of course completely right about that. I mixed up the felony for lying when trying to gain citizenship in the US. I will edit my post.

Re: A US-born NASA scientist was detained at the border until he unlocked his phone

#220
post #216
post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few years ago, for foreign travel, one used to buy a new SIM card at one's destination. These days, I'm thinking I might just bring my SIM and buy a new phone at my destination.

If they have access to your sim they can probably reset your passwords and possibly get TFA via SMS to most social media and email accounts....

It depends on your exact threat model, but when your attackers are state agencies you should probably be assuming that the telephone network is compromised anyway.
Post reply on HN