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Returning from vacation? The government can search your phone without a warrant

411 points · 378 comments · rbanffy

  1. Tangurena2 · · focus · HN ↗
    > “In [Fiscal Year] 2025, out of the over 419 million travelers CBP processed at ports of entry, CBP only searched the electronic devices of 55,318 international travelers,” the agency wrote, or 0.0013%.

    The harassment is targeted at critics & opponents of the current regime. The message is very clear: Be afraid of us. Be very afraid

    There are 33 days remaining until election day. Vote out all the incumbents.

    1. petcat · · focus · HN ↗
      I will be curious to see statistics from past years. I'm wondering if this is a new thing. I'm pretty sure US customs and border patrol have always had this power. I think basically every country exercises this power
      1. alistairSH · · focus · HN ↗
        Only new-ish because cell phones are now not only ubiquitous but also contains troves of typically private information. Historically, individuals didn't have their entire lives, financial details, personal details, etc on their bodies when traveling. The border exception to the 4th was used primarily for enforcing customs/trade regulations. That carve out is now used to harass citizens.
        1. ryandrake · · focus · HN ↗
          Not to blame the victim, but maybe we should not be keeping so much personal information about our lives on a device that is at risk like this. A border patrol agent who gains access to my phone is going to be pretty disappointed to find basically nothing about me on it.
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