If visiting the US becomes such a big hassle, have your friend visit you instead. If that happens enough, the tourism industry takes a hit.
If this country does not want you to come and spend money here, go spend it somewhere else.
US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
311–320 of 398 posts
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#312Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's not like CBP has access to the same tools NSA would use. If your profile isn't public and your name is common, they have no way to know it's really your profile. I'd expect my bank to not freely share my information with CBP (as should anyone whose bank isn't based in the US). Of course the unsolvable issue is that the agent gets to decide whether you get in or not, instead of following some checklist. (Which me…
If your profile isn't public and your name is common, they have no way to know it's really your profile. I know of at least one startup that's selling software to list who's browsing a website with links to their social media accounts in real time. The idea that the CBP can't work out exactly who you are on the internet from your passport seems highly improbable.
I guess normal people can't avoid that, true. But many people don't even have social networks except for maybe LinkedIn (especially outside the US).
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#313After many unpleasant dealings with US Customs, I avoid flying to or through the US completely even if it costs me more. The last time I flew from Canada to Singapore through the US, the US Customs officer - on Canadian soil - was hostile, asked me numerous questions about my travel, itinerary, who I was intending to meet, and my personal finances. When I questioned if all this was necessary as I'm not even traveling…
This is part of the problem, not the questions but the attitude. I can understand them asking questions, they have a short time to figure out if the traveler might be "up to no good". That is no reason to ask questions in way that attacks a person. Ask all the questions you want just don't be terrorizing jerk about it. Now one instance can be chalked up to a bad apple but over and over again I have heard stories like…
I went through Canadian Border Patrol and I had to deal with possibly the most aggressive power hungry person I ever have. I am a US citizen and was just going there with my boyfriend for a weekend trip.
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#314Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Everyone proposing clever technical solutions. Burner phones and encrypted cloud data etc... you are solving the wrong problem. Yes, and this is why I will happily pay airlines more to transfer in another country that is not America (e.g. Canada, Mexico). It sucks because it makes travel more expensive, but US airports are not traveler friendly (they could start by having international transfer zones so you don't h…
Canada also requires your password at the border. Recently one guy even faced 1 year in prison for refusing. At least in the US you don't face prison time. New Zealand asks as well.
This is not exactly true.
* Canadian' border can ask you for your local passwords.
* You can refuse - at which point, if you are Canadian/PR, you are allowed to enter the country but your device is confiscated and sent to Ottawa for further examination.
* They can NOT ask for online passwords (like your dropbox account for example). THAT SAID, if you give them your local password, and you are logged in to Dropbox, it's fair game.
Furthermore, this has not been through the Supreme Court to set precedence.
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#315Earlier quoted context omitted.
As a New Zealander, it amazes me that the US and Canada do not have closer relations with regards to customs and so forth. I understand that both countries are large, but this situation seems a little ludicrous. I recently travelled to Australia on business - which, I suppose, is the larger neighbour in the same way the US is to Canada. Through immigration and customs at both airports, I was never obliged to actually…
It used to be much more relaxed. After 9/11 things changed and the US started paying more attention to border crossings.
I remember those days. You didn't need a passport to cross and half the time you got waved through because you knew the border guard by name.
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#316Honest question: How US border controls compare to China border controls?
Edit: worded it better.
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#317"A non-American who is asked to hand over their devices and passwords is faced with the dilemma of protecting their privacy or potentially being denied entry to the US."
Odds are that if DHS or CBP agents ask any non-citizen for the ability to search their devices that person isn't getting let into the country no matter what and the agents are just looking for evidence to validate whatever suspicion they have. This guy was selected for secondary inspection. Now I'm not sure if that selection was random or if it was pre-determined for when he showed up at the airport. If it was pre-determined and he was flagged for inspection, there's very little chance he's getting through at all. If it was random and he declined to give them the passwords to search his devices, the agents might have no choice but to allow him through since there is no cause for suspicion. I'm not really sure what the law is in this regard or the DHS/CBP policies.
That being said, in almost any scenario it seems the best course of action is not to comply because you think that if you do they are going to let you in. The best course of action is almost always to refuse to give your passwords. Let's also not forget that the article says they kept the passwords for future use! That's bad enough by itself. I have no idea why this guy didn't treat his accounts, passwords, and device as compromised and take appropriate action. That was dumb on his part. As soon as a government agent gets their hands on an unlocked device, inserts anything into a port, or the device leaves your sight while in their possession it should be considered compromised. No exceptions.
While I do acknowledge and support the US retaining the right to deny anyone access to their country, which is a right of all sovereign nations - it really leaves a bad taste when they don't reimburse travelers for their flights when they are either denied entrance or were allowed entrance but missed the flight due to abnormal detainment times. That can get really tricky, though, because then you face issues like having to reimburse people who are denied entrance for very valid reasons. I'm not sure how to fix that problem, but it's definitely an issue.
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#318Earlier quoted context omitted.
Or just don't bring any electronic devices with you on the travel.
That's likely to be a red flag and used against you. Remember, as a non-US citizen, border guards don't have to prove you're guilty of anything. Any suspicion, no matter how trivial or unreasonable, and you have to be able to convincingly prove your own innocence. No electronic devices will probably simply result in them asking for the passwords to your accounts on Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc.
Then all bets are off, i guess.
How am i suppose to prove i have no Facebook account? I really do not have a Facebook account. :)
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#319One wonders what would happen if Canada (and other countries) started treating US visitors the same way?
Re: US Customs block Canadian man after reading his Scruff profile
#320Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Because you specifically took steps to prevent them from doing it. ... or I'm travelling with my local SIM to avoid roaming charges?
That only works if you've already been to the US and have a local SIM card. Also — you left your home country SIM at home because you don't care about the roaming charges back home getting to/returning from the airport?
> you left your home country SIM at home because you don't care about the roaming charges back home getting to/returning from the airport?
Because I don't want to lose it. This is exactly how I've travelled before hearing that this 'handover your passwords' existed.
No roaming charges because it's not being used - I can live without a very functional phone between the WiFi at the airport in my home country, and home.
(Actually, right now I don't even carry the dumbphone that has my SIM it. I'm content with WiFi.)