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Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

arstechnica.com

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Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#91

Post by Cthulhu_ »

dawnerd wrote: post #66
zachberger wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. I went through the TSA checkpoint at the United Premier Access this last Tuesday. They have the new automated bin return system. Some of the people who travel less frequently were leaving the bins behind instead of putting them in the machine to be returned to the front. The TSA agent shouted at them repeatedly, "do any of you read English? Can't you read the damn sign?" While he pointed at the instructions.…

I travel frequently and those machines at lax always throw me off. And they expect you to stand right up next to someone else while you empty your pockets. Literally feels like I’m cattle.

> Literally feels like I’m cattle.

That might actually be the intent - make people feel uncomfortable so they get more uncomfortable if they're up to no good.

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#92

Post by dijit »

bpchaps wrote: post #39
bruceb wrote: post #22

The problem with Customs and Border Protection is the attitude. They do have a challenging job. 99%+ of travelers are legit and doing nothing nefarious. They have to pick out the ones who are not legit/up to no good. I have no problem with them asking questions of myself or other travelers, even a lot of questions. The problem is the attitude and abusive nature of their conduct. I have had this experience a couple ti…

Anecdote: About a year ago, I went through TSA and asked to opt out of the body scans in place of a pat down. Another agent on the side watched the whole thing and made kissing faces my way the whole time while making gay jokes. It was extremely belittling. Fuck TSA.

Are you me?

Had a really similar experience until I said that “this is the cheapest rub job I’ve ever gotten” and winked at him. He didn’t appreciate that.

Tbh I seem to be making it my life’s work to be a little shit at airport security. I will _never_ use the millimetre scanner which seems to be a huge point of contentenion. And, while not TSA, the Gatwick airport security were trying very hard to convince me that I didn’t have a solid reason not to use this thing. Almost calling me silly or implying I’m stupid.

On the same trip I tried flying with half a tub of hair créme (layrite) and, while I managed to fly in from Copenhagen with the tub, apparently Gatwick has different rules, so if the container has the potential of fitting more than 100ml it’s disallowed.

Empty bottles are fine, but even a single drop of water makes it forbidden.

It’s. Ludicrous.

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#93

Post by Vinnl »

petre wrote: post #45
danboarder wrote: post #6

Suggestion: for international travel, when possible stow your powered off phone in checked baggage, and bring a non-important factory-reset phone or tablet for entertainment or to connect to the cloud if needed for work etc. If needed keep your work files in a hidden folder on an SD card in your camera... lots of annoying but increasingly necessary workarounds to deal with the growth of authoritarian states.

Just make sure you phone's battery is dead. Then you won't be able to unlock it anyway.

Hmm, I'm wondering how they'd respond if you stored your battery in your checked baggage...

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#94

Post by lukeqsee »

metters wrote: post #89
dawnerd wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve been to Canada numerous times and the agents on your side are so nice. Also never really had a problem with us agents other than they all seem over worked and under paid. At least that’s what their attitude comes off like to me. I do remember one case where a Canadian agent asked what my profession was and at the time I said “web developer” but they heard weapon developer. Pretty funny and awkward. And Gesh, I k…

> don’t have nexus or global entry I am sorry, not a native speaker. What is "nexus or global entry"?

It's a known traveler program you can pay to be a part of that includes fingerprinting, background checks, etc.

After passing verification, they give you a card, and reentry to the country is much easier (go to a kiosk, get a receipt, show it to a border guard, get through in <5 minutes).

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#95

Post by pmiller2 »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #91
dawnerd wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I travel frequently and those machines at lax always throw me off. And they expect you to stand right up next to someone else while you empty your pockets. Literally feels like I’m cattle.

> Literally feels like I’m cattle. That might actually be the intent - make people feel uncomfortable so they get more uncomfortable if they're up to no good.

I think you overestimate the competence of TSA. Last I had read, TSA had never prevented a terrorist attack, and has an abysmal record in tests where people try to get things like guns and knives past them.

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#96

Post by chipperyman573 »

metters wrote: post #89
dawnerd wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve been to Canada numerous times and the agents on your side are so nice. Also never really had a problem with us agents other than they all seem over worked and under paid. At least that’s what their attitude comes off like to me. I do remember one case where a Canadian agent asked what my profession was and at the time I said “web developer” but they heard weapon developer. Pretty funny and awkward. And Gesh, I k…

> don’t have nexus or global entry I am sorry, not a native speaker. What is "nexus or global entry"?

Basically services where you can pay a few hundred dollars a year and get "pre-screened" so you have to do less when entering another country. You also get to go to the nexus/global entry only line so your time spent in line is often shorter as well.

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#97

Post by tony101 »

metters wrote: post #89
dawnerd wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve been to Canada numerous times and the agents on your side are so nice. Also never really had a problem with us agents other than they all seem over worked and under paid. At least that’s what their attitude comes off like to me. I do remember one case where a Canadian agent asked what my profession was and at the time I said “web developer” but they heard weapon developer. Pretty funny and awkward. And Gesh, I k…

> don’t have nexus or global entry I am sorry, not a native speaker. What is "nexus or global entry"?

NEXUS: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/nexus

Global Entry: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-...

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#98

Post by grecy »

The "unlock your phone" part is obviously a problem, and the focus of HN's attention.

What gets me is an Officer can say to your face "You are not under arrest" but then handcuff you, take you someplace against your will, and detain you there without access to a lawyer.

How can that possibly be the conduct of Officers in a free country?

I could even understand if the Officer just plainly said "we can not let you board this flight, you must leave the airport" or something similar. But handcuffs and detention even though you are not under arrest is insanity.

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#99

Post by chipperyman573 »

onetimemanytime wrote: post #76

"Do as we say or you'll miss your flight" probably get 99.99% compliance. Most people have plans and "have nothing to hide," or so they think. Question: Why do they ask all these question about kids, schools, wife etc? Identity is established, the passport is legit because they can check it, WTH do they want?

They ask those questions because they're questions that honest people should have no problem answering, but someone who is trying to hide something might make an unconscious facial expression or something. Basically they don't care about what your answer is, they are watching to see how you answer.

Re: Man sues feds after being detained for refusing to unlock his phone at airport

#100

Post by jjeaff »

pmiller2 wrote: post #95
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Literally feels like I’m cattle. That might actually be the intent - make people feel uncomfortable so they get more uncomfortable if they're up to no good.

I think you overestimate the competence of TSA. Last I had read, TSA had never prevented a terrorist attack, and has an abysmal record in tests where people try to get things like guns and knives past them.

TSA is security theater. Nothing more.
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