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Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

theguardian.com

131–140 of 141 posts

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's nothing to do with finding you "disagreeable". It's pretty basic etiquette when having a conversation. Please tell me more about this etiquette while calling me a foodstuff. Indeed Covid is the unrelated topic, my opening words: Regardless of where you stand on Covid ...the original reasons for draconian law enforcement meant to be temporary are long gone.. The mentality however remains. I can only hope not pe…

> Please tell me more about this etiquette while calling me a foodstuff. I'm sorry you don't appreciate porcine slang. Would you prefer "Why are you going off like a bucket of prawns in the sun?" Or if you like crustaceans but prefer it was a bit snappier (no crab pun intended), how about "Don't come the raw prawn mate?" > the original reasons for draconian law enforcement meant to be temporary are long gone.. How ma…

> What mentality?

> Well you're a foreigner who yet again made pretty ridiculous claims about Australians and their thoughts regarding how the government handled the pandemic.

I keep telling you I’m not an anti vaxer. I keep telling you I’m not talking about the the pandemic.

Those people who disturb you so is the outgroup I’m talking about.

I’m not that, has diddly to do with me, but you can’t snap out of that fixation.

> How many times do people have to tell you that these measures are unrelated to COVID and pre-date it? COVID is thus not the "original reason" for the law in question, and never has been.

I never said that Covid is the reason for the law in question , look carefully, you got on that all on your own!

How many times can I clarify that? That’s the mentality I’m talking about.

Snap out of it.

A border guard searching your phone pre and post Covid is no longer the same. God help you if he starts assuming wrong things about you now, like you are about me, understand?

That’s the entire point. Covid is over, the animosities remain and run deep.

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Please tell me more about this etiquette while calling me a foodstuff. I'm sorry you don't appreciate porcine slang. Would you prefer "Why are you going off like a bucket of prawns in the sun?" Or if you like crustaceans but prefer it was a bit snappier (no crab pun intended), how about "Don't come the raw prawn mate?" > the original reasons for draconian law enforcement meant to be temporary are long gone.. How ma…

> What mentality? > Well you're a foreigner who yet again made pretty ridiculous claims about Australians and their thoughts regarding how the government handled the pandemic. I keep telling you I’m not an anti vaxer. I keep telling you I’m not talking about the the pandemic. Those people who disturb you so is the outgroup I’m talking about. I’m not that, has diddly to do with me, but you can’t snap out of that fixat…

> I’m not talking about the the pandemic.

Then why even mention it?

> you got on that all on your own!

Me, and the other people who replied to tell you the same thing, and the countless others who downvoted you on the same assumption.

> A border guard searching your phone pre and post Covid is no longer the same.

They're searching for terrorists/kiddie fuckers/porn 'smugglers'. That's it. I think their approach is completely wrong, but that's what they're searching for.

None of those particular things has anything to do with the pandemic.

> God help you if he starts assuming wrong things about you now

Why? Whether I refuse to give him my PIN; or I give it to him and he finds nothing of interest; or he does find something of interest: none of that relates to the attitudes of people regarding the pandemic, because none of the things they're searching for are even remotely related to the pandemic.

> That’s the entire point. Covid is over, the animosities remain and run deep.

What animosities? It's like you've branched out from carrying on like a pork chop and decided to add a side of word salad to the conversational plate.

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What mentality? > Well you're a foreigner who yet again made pretty ridiculous claims about Australians and their thoughts regarding how the government handled the pandemic. I keep telling you I’m not an anti vaxer. I keep telling you I’m not talking about the the pandemic. Those people who disturb you so is the outgroup I’m talking about. I’m not that, has diddly to do with me, but you can’t snap out of that fixat…

> I’m not talking about the the pandemic. Then why even mention it? > you got on that all on your own! Me, and the other people who replied to tell you the same thing, and the countless others who downvoted you on the same assumption. > A border guard searching your phone pre and post Covid is no longer the same. They're searching for terrorists/kiddie fuckers/porn 'smugglers'. That's it. I think their approach is co…

> I’m not talking about the the pandemic. > Then why even mention it?

Listen bud, you can treat antivaxers and bogans like lepers if you want. It is not my problem, they are your cross to bear as fellow citizens. I also think they are retarded, but you seem incapable of understanding this or where we differ.

Read the thread again and observe how you jump to conclusions about strangers (I must be an American who fell down the rabbit hole with those people online and am also like them) and the way you treat people you don't like. That's all.

I don't think you are quite your old selves and don't want to get caught up in your culture wars.

> Why? Whether I refuse to give him my PIN; or I give it to him and he finds nothing of interest; or he does find something of interest: none of that relates to the attitudes of people regarding the pandemic, because none of the things they're searching for are even remotely related to the pandemic.

Hard to believe they are sifting through phones at the border "just looking for kiddie fuckers". There is a reason why you think their approach is completely wrong. You know that makes no kind of sense, it is security theatre.

There is a fellow Australian in this thread describing being searched three times.

In reality you are at the mercy and at the discretion of the border guy. And if he acts like you've acted here and comes across an antivaxer I have a reasonable expectation he would give them a hard time out of spite. Or indeed whomever rubs them the wrong way.

I get how it is supposed to work, I am not claiming anything remotely like they are actively targeting this or that group as defined in the law. I'm talking about how it is enforced.

It isn't something I read online either. Because of this atmosphere people have bad experiences. Normal people.

No point in talking in circles, I'm guessing you'll stay with your cognitive disonnance and keep yelping at me like I'm an antivaxer and this isn't registering at all so I'll wish you the best and stop here.

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’m not talking about the the pandemic. Then why even mention it? > you got on that all on your own! Me, and the other people who replied to tell you the same thing, and the countless others who downvoted you on the same assumption. > A border guard searching your phone pre and post Covid is no longer the same. They're searching for terrorists/kiddie fuckers/porn 'smugglers'. That's it. I think their approach is co…

> I’m not talking about the the pandemic. > Then why even mention it? Listen bud, you can treat antivaxers and bogans like lepers if you want. It is not my problem, they are your cross to bear as fellow citizens. I also think they are retarded, but you seem incapable of understanding this or where we differ. Read the thread again and observe how you jump to conclusions about strangers (I must be an American who fell…

> observe how you jump to conclusions about strangers

Conclusions are based on observations mate.

> culture wars

a few noisy fuck wits pretending to be construction workers so they can protest is hardly a culture war buddy.

> Hard to believe they are sifting through phones at the border "just looking for kiddie fuckers".

I gave you a paraphrased list of what they've told the media and the Senate they're looking for. An exact quote is

> Border force said a phone would only be seized where officers suspect it has “special forfeited goods” such as “illegal pornography, terrorism-related material and media that has been, or would be, refused classification”.

Given that they have sniffer dogs checking for fucking bananas it doesn't really surprise me that they want to check for porn, and the numbers quoted aren't exactly a large percentage of the number of travellers.

> There is a reason why you think their approach is completely wrong.

Yes, because it's done without a warrant. My issue is not with the government investigating suspected crimes. My issue is with random staff peeking at shit without sufficient oversight, and the potential for mishandling of legal, but sensitive material that may be held on a device.

> You know that makes no kind of sense, it is security theatre.

As I said, I think it needs to be backed by a stronger case (enough to convince a judge to grant a warrant), but that doesn't mean it's useless.

> There is a fellow Australian in this thread describing being searched three times.

And we know zero about the context of why he was initially searched.

> In reality you are at the mercy and at the discretion of the border guy.

That's literally the case in every border crossing everywhere.

> if he acts like you've acted here and comes across an antivaxer I have a reasonable expectation he would give them a hard time out of spite

If someone turns up at the border and starts waffling on like a pork chop about COVID or any other completely irrelevant topic then yes I would imagine he is treated like the twat that he's being. Short of another pandemic, there's basically no scenario where a persons vaccination history or beliefs are going to come up while crossing the border. If you rock up at the border wearing a t-shirt that says "vaccines are for suckers" or whatever, I'd imagine it'll go about as well as wearing a t-shirt that says "I fuck kids". Yes, you're potentially going to have a shit time. Yes, you absolutely brought it on yourself.

> I'm talking about how it is enforced.

Yes, I already told you I believe that the way this policy is currently applied needs more oversight and transparency.

> It isn't something I read online either. Because of this atmosphere people have bad experiences. Normal people.

What atmosphere? People learning the consequences of their own stupid actions isn't an atmosphere.

You keep referring back to anti vaxxers being treated poorly and then throw in these mysterious "normal people". What's normal?

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’m not talking about the the pandemic. > Then why even mention it? Listen bud, you can treat antivaxers and bogans like lepers if you want. It is not my problem, they are your cross to bear as fellow citizens. I also think they are retarded, but you seem incapable of understanding this or where we differ. Read the thread again and observe how you jump to conclusions about strangers (I must be an American who fell…

> observe how you jump to conclusions about strangers Conclusions are based on observations mate. > culture wars a few noisy fuck wits pretending to be construction workers so they can protest is hardly a culture war buddy. > Hard to believe they are sifting through phones at the border "just looking for kiddie fuckers". I gave you a paraphrased list of what they've told the media and the Senate they're looking for.…

[flagged]

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#137
post #69

If you are using an iPhone, make sure to enable pair locking (1). Additionally, I recommend storing your photos (or your phone backup) on a LUKS-encrypted Linux laptop. Do not trust corporate encryption software; it’s better to use a new phone while traveling if you don’t want to bother with that. (1) https://arkadiyt.com/2019/10/07/pair-locking-your-iphone-wit...

Thanks for the heads up on pair locking. I saw a comment somewhere (without much to back it up, admittedly) that suggested "Lockdown mode" would also prevent similar attacks (which apparently prevents connections of any kind when locked). It definitely sounds like pair locking is a more reliable method, but lockdown mode can be done a few minutes before getting to a border, it doesn't require access to a laptop/deskt…

I’m not sure about lockdown mode, but the advantage of pair locking is that the lock (say, your MacBook) can be left at home and isn’t currently with you, so no matter what, it will be locked. Lockdown mode might not work under certain coercion conditions.

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the heads up on pair locking. I saw a comment somewhere (without much to back it up, admittedly) that suggested "Lockdown mode" would also prevent similar attacks (which apparently prevents connections of any kind when locked). It definitely sounds like pair locking is a more reliable method, but lockdown mode can be done a few minutes before getting to a border, it doesn't require access to a laptop/deskt…

I’m not sure about lockdown mode, but the advantage of pair locking is that the lock (say, your MacBook) can be left at home and isn’t currently with you, so no matter what, it will be locked. Lockdown mode might not work under certain coercion conditions.

True, and it doesn't seem like it impacts any other functionality at all, unlike lockdown mode.

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#139
post #113
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Otherwise it's just bashing the Chinese for internet happy points. Just like reddit. Not every criticism of China is xenophobia.

You've lost all objectivity on this.

You're a Chinese propaganda sockpuppet account.

Re: Australian Border Force searched phones of 10k travellers in past two years

#140
post #62

I'll just add a couple of details here since I have had this happen to me multiple times... I'm an Australian citizen and this applies just as much to me as a foreigner (for whom although I disagree about, I could make a reasonable argument for this being valid). Police require a warrant and/or reasonable suspicion of having committed a specific crime to search any part of you or your belongings. Border Force do not…

Have you tried not bringing a phone? I'd be really interested in their response when you tell them you don't have one on you.

I'd wipe my iPhone and restore from iCloud backup after the airport.
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