Canadian Charged for Not Unlocking Smartphone at Canadian Border

Post by shard » Fri, Mar 06, 2015, 4:34 AM UTC

gav wrote: post #142

andrewchambers wrote: post #2

There is no reason anyone should search a phone, because anyone smuggling "illegal data" can just transfer it directly over the internet undetected. This is horrible and ridiculous.

Unlocking my phone for border officials in 2013 when I arrived in Canada cost me about $300. They turned on cellular data when it was left in airplane mode so they could search through my emails. I fly internationally on business and the Canadian border officials are the worst I've run across.

Post by Sami_Lehtinen » Fri, Mar 06, 2015, 6:29 AM UTC

click170 wrote: post #189

hackmiester wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even with the worst phone you can buy from most carriers, these would still apply: "your entire address book, your chat history, all your personal photos"

Just factory reset your phone before going through, and restore it after you've completed your TSA adventure. Though, do NOT brag about your tactic to them or they will likely try to force you to restore it on the spot.

Post by spiritplumber » Fri, Mar 06, 2015, 8:37 AM UTC

driverdan wrote: post #148

spiritplumber wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had this experience. My laptop wasn't locked, but I was asked to let someone look through it. That took about 20 minutes, which caused me to miss my coincidence. Since I now had time to waste, I asked to see the customs lady's supervisor, and then berated the person who inspected my laptop for not having any idea how to do this sort of search properly. So, I ended up sitting both the customs lady and her supervisor…

Why didn't you refuse the search?

Post by youngtaff » Fri, Mar 06, 2015, 9:27 AM UTC

bigiain wrote: post #184

bjelkeman-again wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Nordic countries in general are pretty good. The Netherlands is good as you point out. No place is perfect, but these are ok.

I suspect Julian Assange has a different opinion about Sweden, one of the usually-referenced "Nordic countries". (I guess that sill gives your statement an 80% correct rating, making qualifier "in general" allow it to still be valid...)

Post by spacemanmatt » Fri, Mar 06, 2015, 11:52 AM UTC

click170 wrote: post #188

MichaelGG wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right. No one needs to import data via physical presence, so customs simply doesn't need to inspect the data on devices. If someone wanted to bring contraband in, they simply can download it over the Internet, no customs searches needed. This is vastly different than physical goods inside boxes or briefcases, which all physically pass through the border in an inspectable manner.

I predict they will claim to be hunting for child pornography and similar contraband. Despite the argument being silly, as pointed out by yourself.