Link: https://lataco.com/phone-surveillance-border

An Appeals Court panel has ruled that federal agents can legally search through travelers' cell phones without reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or a warrant when they cross an international border.

Tbh I'm shocked it wasn't already. Like I thought the border has been a "no rights zone" for as long as I've been alive.

Yah I thought SCOTUS ok'd that within 100 miles of a boarder.

...

Seems not! Just lots of circut courts have affirmed the general idea. This is the first at an appellate court.

Registration walled. Anyone happen to have the full text?

My personal life is pretty damn boring, but regardless, every time I fly (even domestic) I wipe my phone beforehand and only keep emergency contacts.

it seems like this a re-affirmation of it -- guaranteeing that it'll stay in the books for the rest of our lives

Just budget for a cheap ass phone for when you cross the border and don't take your actual device with you. Or if you do take it with you when you cross, make sure that it is off during the entire transit.

Archive link: https://archive.is/mEIkV

make sure that it is off during the entire transit

I've never had them insist that I can recall, but I do remember reading, I believe in the TSA docs, that any devices are supposed to be powered on and able to be demonstrated to be working or something to that effect ... I guess to make sure it's not just a phone-shaped bomb or whatever.

Anyway I prefer to suck at my ellbow before visiting the US.

Regarding the 100 mile zone around the border:

Two-thirds of the U.S. population lives within this 100-mile border enforcement zone, including cities like Washington D.C., San Francisco CA, Chicago IL, New Orleans LA, Boston MA, & more.

I held on to my old phone when I last upgraded just for this reason. If I ever need to travel internationally in the next few years, that's the one that's coming with me. And as much as I'd like to bring my steam deck for travel entertainment, that's staying home too.

Just create a fake profile with pictures of diseased cocks.

They can already snatch your phone beat you the fuck up and slam your bloodied face into the face recognition until they've got your device unlocked. I mean whatcha gonna do when they're peeling your fingernaips apart and screaming at you to blurt all your secrets. No shitty amendment gonna protect your fragile meat ass.

Makes a little more sense when you consider Israel's pager bombs.

and that number goes up significantly if you consider an international airport a "border"

Even if they have you powered on, the fact that it's in the before-first unlock state means that the file-based encryption still holds and it cannot be unlocked with biometrics.

They can have the duress pin.

Only time I've ever had an "electronic" device checked like that was at an airport in Europe about 15 years ago (if memory serves me right, I think it was CDG in France). I had a DSLR with a couple extra lenses and they asked me to turn on the camera and take a picture with each lense attached. They also asked to view through the viewfinder with each.

They just ask you tonpiwer it on. Did it for a laptop once.

and when you consider the surveillance state. security from "terrorists" is a great excuse, up there with protecting the children.

Turn it off before crossing. They may ask you to power it on, which you may comply with. In my experience, biometrics don't work after a fresh boot and the device password must be entered before biometric unlocking works.

I saw someone also mention "waterways" in another thread as being subject to this. If that means navigable rivers like the Mississippi, etc., then between coasts, land borders, airports, and waterways, it's probably most of the US.

So bits are considered a controlled substance now?

Border security very likely uses israeli tech to download your whole drive. Even if they don’t I assume they would at least hold you for questioning if you did make such a profile

And then get arrested. Land of freedom baby.

That prevents them from getting into your phone, but probably prevents you from getting across the border too.

Thats already getting ppl arrested

Encrypt all your real devices and use a dummy phone to cross. If you get questioned, give lawyer contact info and say nothing else

Never going anywhere near that border.

Might sound extreme, but unironically everyone should do this

I'll never be traveling to the US again. Lots of better places for this Canadian to spend his money.

Cellebrite. They don't even need to look through the phone if you unlock it for them they'll enable whatever settings they have to to download the whole thing. From there they build out associations based on your contacts, apps, social media, etc. Essentially they do what palantir does but a lot more direct, and skips the whole data brokers part.

This was already the legal case. I'm confused what changed. This was okay legally for international travel anyway because borders are not considered protect it by the Constitution. I'm so confused. What's different?

Just disable the biometric unlock features. The password method still requires a warrant.

Leave your phone at home, back up all the important data you need into a server. Keep all important information and documents you need for the trip printed on a paper.

Go through border without a phone, buy new phone and SIM abroad to avoid roaming. Access/download your important info through the internet using the hotel's wifi.

After the trip you can bring the phone home and it will only contain some holiday photos.

No add trackers 🤣

One person. And just in Amerikkka.

And that's why I no longer go there.

I have a question.. there’s data on my phone and other devices that are protected under an active NDA. I am legally obligated to prevent disclosure of that information.

So.. what happens then?

It was gray. The used the concept of being outside of US jurisdiction to skirt the laws on illegal search and seizure. Somebody pushed back on this recently, so they made it less gray.

Nothing new, I thought they can read your phone going through an airport.

People are just clueing in to how bad it's actually been since 9/11.

Remember to always turn off your phone before getting off the plane.

They can boot it to the password prompt and shut it down again.

No it doesn't. Those were fully functioning devices with a maliciously modified battery with zero extra footprint.

No. Even the guy who used the duress password to wipe his device was allowed through the border.

They will use psychological pressure and make you wait hours, but they will let you through, even if you stand your ground.

The lawyer is for you, not them. Just prepare to say "no thank you. Am I free to go now?" for a few hours. Don't say anything else.

Don't use biometrics. Use a duress password.

Cryptography works.

He was allowed through the border, is currently living a normal life outside of jail, and has so far not been convicted since years ago.