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How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

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Re: How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

#141
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Common sense is suspending US travel. I did that last month.

So did I - and I kinda liked the place (not the border police, it seemed as if they hated me and hated the fact that I was coming to spend money there).

CBP hates everybody, citizen and non-citizen alike.

Re: How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

#142

Too technical and nerve-racking for my loved ones traveling across the border. The solution most people I know (who are not born in the u.s.) have landed on is don't post or share any political articles, memes or reels, especially in DMs. If someone sends you political content, delete the message afterwards. The silver lining is that eschewing that content has some mental health benefits. I would imagine that stories…

“Just don’t share opinions” is not an option for a free society. Being gagged for fear of retribution from a foreign government is not beneficial to my mental health.

Re: How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

#144
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's my experience that once you get sent to secondary they have already decided to fuck you, they are just deciding which flimsy excuse they will use to do it. My totally non-legal conjecture (and livid experience) is if you are a citizen they will play mind games with you in secondary or a holding cell for hours to a day or so and then eventually reluctantly release you after muttering threats about revoking your p…

Detainment for having a phone without any content in it is just pure and utter fascism.

[deleted]

Re: How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

#145

Almost everyone reading this doesn't need to worry about this. And if you are one of the few that do need to worry - just don't travel to the US for now.

What do you believe the valid reasons are to worry and what are the ones you consider invalid?

Re: How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

#146

One lesser-known tip for iPhones with FaceID or TouchID: press and hold the lock button and one of the volume buttons until prompted for power options/medical ID/emergency call. You'll then have to enter a passcode in order to use those auth methods again. Having to reveal a passcode can sometimes be considered a higher bar than biometric auth. You can do this even when in it's in your pocket without looking, quite q…

On android you can hold down the power button and then tap lockdown mode. Then it will require your pin/password to unlock again. Ideally have a password as your authentication method if you're concerned about privacy.

Re: How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

#147
post #104

Even Arab dictatorships don't search phones on entry. What's happening here?

To be fair, Canadian border agents have been looking at some travelers' phones for years. A typical scenario might be: "So why are you entering Canada?" ; "Visiting friends, on holiday" (traveler carrying a suitcase full of tattoo equipment); "Ok let's look at your phone" ; "Interesting, in this SMS thread from yesterday your friend says 'looking forward to you starting work in the tattoo studio'". Entry denied.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/edd-ean-eng.html

Re: How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

#148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does anyone more knowledgable know if US citizen 5th amendment rights still applies at the border, i.e. I can't legally be compelled to unlock my phone at the US border? Law is not my area of expertise at all. (The article might have addressed this but it's behind a paywall.) Thanks in advance.

I am not a lawyer, though I am a US citizen. First, it's the fourth amendment that protects against unreasonable search. Fifth amendment is protection against self-incrimination. My understanding is that fourth amendment protections effectively do not apply at the border [1] because the border is inherently a reasonable place to search people. In regards to being compelled to unlock your phone, CBP maintains the posi…

- "...but in the current iteration of the administration I find it unlikely that it would be a positive experience if you were to stand on it"

I.e., this warning example from this week,

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43618754 ("Lawyer for U-M protester detained at airport after spring break trip with family (freep.com)")

(US citizen, attorney, detained for 90 minutes as punishment for asserting his rights and refusing to unlock his work phone, which contained privileged attorney-client communications).

Re: How to lock down your phone if you're traveling to the U.S.

#149
post #43
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a US citizen it is still a bit useful. You cannot be denied entry (CBP has told me they would deny me entry, but in the end they just threaten to revoke your passport which is also a lie). If they have decided they want to search your phone, they will tell you that you just have to answer the questions and they will let you out in time to catch your next flight or whatever. The truth is they are vicious liars, as…

> might as well assert your rights I wonder what could happen to citizens who weren’t born in the US Given what we’ve seen recently. Could it be possible they would refer these people to the state department to revoke their citizenships?

As things currently stand, this wouldn't qualify for denaturalization. Even the Trump proposals have been to do it for fraudulently obtaining citizenship (e.g. lying about a criminal record), not general crimes, and certainly not for non-crimes like annoying CBP.

But next week it could all be different.

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