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

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

#241
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm, what if we keep some encrypted porn in the shell OS? "Yep, there is hidden data. Do I really need to decrypt my special folder because I really wouldn't like to? OK then, the password is.." Disclaimer: this is all being speculative, of course. I'm not suggesting to lie to or misdirect a border guard in a real-life situation.

Good work, you've just confessed to a crime. Importing pornography into the US is illegal. https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/us-customs-is-req...

I'm speechless.

For the sake of this discussion, replace porn with old passport scans and unimportant banking documents, for example.

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

#242
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…

Wasn't this how the world worked up until a century ago? Anyone could walk or sail into any country, anywhere in the world, without a passport. Apparently the World Wars changed that.

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

#243
post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Donald Trump is undoubtedly homophobic, I think he's just pointing out that for the country to be voting for him, to an extent a proportion of them must agree. And I disagree about you saying the EU just wishes to become the United States of Europe. In almost no sense does anyone give up their "sovereignty" by joining the EU. Every country still creates it's own laws, governs how it wishes to and has full control ove…

Damnit...I hate to look like I'm defending Trump, but he was also the only Republican to let an open homosexual speak on the convention stage (Thiel).

He's self-serving and contradictory (see Pence), but it's not nearly as open and shut as suggested.

Do you have any specific reasons he's homophobic?

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

#244
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> So how do you protect yourself? Wipe phone when you pass through border, restore afterwards. If you're really paranoid, if the device leaves your presence it's to be considered physically compromised.

It is bizarre that we're now having to consider the type of preparation you previously would want to consider for places like China. I'm really not sure if I want to visit the US at all while Trump is in power. Not because I expect the chances of any severe problems are all that huge, but because the growing lack of predictability is just creating sufficient friction.

I found this comment by educar from HN a few days ago very interesting and true:

> If you still think of the world as divided into good and evil, then I have to break it to you that you have been played. Brainwashed by years and years of media programming.

> One man's terrorist is another man's hero. The U.S routinely bombs other sovereign countries and this is show cased as a "hero" activity. If the bombed people retaliate, they are terrorists. The truth is not black/white. Same way U.S data surveillance is OK but same thing done by China is seen as backward regime.

from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13596218

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

#245
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…

I'd suggest not even taking a phone if you are visiting the US. You can presumably buy a prepaid phone there if you need one during the trip, and connect it to your existing online accounts.

I guess you could also do a factory reset on an existing phone and set it up once you are through immigration.

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

#246
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…

Not to detract from your point but you're referring to the Schengen Zone specifically. There are EU countries opted out (UK) and non-EU countries participating (e.g. Switzerland, Norway and Iceland).

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

#247
post #108

Another terrifying part of this, is due to the nature of networks, when one of your "friends" becomes compromised, your private message do too. This goes way past national security, and 7 countries. I have former coworkers from Syria, Iran, and Iraq. They're great people, and are great programmers. I friended them on Facebook many years ago, and now when one of them is caught at a border it's not just their private m…

first of all stop using FB for communication

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

#248
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good work, you've just confessed to a crime. Importing pornography into the US is illegal. https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/us-customs-is-req...

I'm speechless. For the sake of this discussion, replace porn with old passport scans and unimportant banking documents, for example.

Misleading border guards with statements and behaviour like that is also a felony.

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

#249

Obviously appreciating that NASA has some sensitive data but just for a second also try and appreciate how would this play out for someone who works in the financial industry, where unauthorised sharing of sensitive data is not only a breach of contract with your employer/clients but a crime(insider trading) in almost all countries. Or imagine how the people who enforce these new regulations can exploit this. Query f…

What if you're a lawyer? Isn't it possible - even likely - that you'd have confidential client communications in your phone?

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

#250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who is excusing it? All people are saying is that this is a failing of previous administrations. Bush set a lot of these rules up, and Obama strengthened them.

It doesn't really matter that bush set up these rules. We will be hearing more and more about it if they're being applied more and more frequently now against US citizens, especially given the political current climate.

Sure lets critique it, but lets not blame Trump for something he inherited.
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