The right time to start protecting your digital privacy is before your trip […] The simplest and most reliable precaution against border searches is to reduce the amount of information that you carry across the border.
Sometimes law enforcement officials achieve so-called “consent” by being vague […] You can try to dispel this ambiguity by inquiring whether border agents are asking you or ordering you […] If an agent says it is a request only, you might politely but firmly decline to comply with the request.
If you are a U.S. citizen, border agents cannot stop you from entering the country, even if you refuse to unlock your device, provide your device password, or disclose your social media information. However, agents may escalate the encounter if you refuse.
If you elect to comply with a border agent’s order to unlock your device, provide your password, or disclose your social media information, you can inform the agent that you are complying under protest and that you do not consent.
It is possible that if you unlock your device, and agents then search your device, a court will rule that you consented to the search. […] As noted in Part 1, the best way to avoid an inadvertent “consent” to search is to decline to unlock your device, provide the device password, or provide any social media information.
Technically, you don’t even need to admit that you know the password.
If you believe that border agents violated your digital rights at the border, please contact EFF at borders@eff.org.
See also:
- https://www.eff.org/document/eff-border-search-pocket-guide
- https://www.eff.org/issues/border-searches
- https://monero.town/post/402125 Fifth Circuit says law enforcement doesn’t need warrants to search phones at the border
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Great post. Thanks!
You’re welcome, just sharing a link, though.
While these EFF guides are helpful and all, the root of the problem is, why do we have to go through this in the first place. It’s normal & understandable that one has to go through passport control at an international airport, but why would they have to tell the officer(s) their social media nick, login, and password?! That’s a way too much, an unnecessary invasion of privacy imho…
Full agreement.
Tyrant’s and control freak’s gonna be tyrannical and attempt to control. They are broken people and bullies. It sucks we peaceful people just trying to live our lives in peace have to walk on eggshells and take such defensive actions to claw back some small amount of respect for the rights we are born with.
