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

411 points · 378 comments · rbanffy

  1. TrackerFF · · focus · HN ↗
    Yeah, people are unfortunately not informed on just how much power border agents wield. Not only in the US, but in many (most I'd believe) other countries, too. I've worked on cases (intel side) where the law-enforcement side would just wait for the surveillance objects to cross the border, as that's where they could do most data collection with the least hassle.

    If for whatever reason you think you're being investigated or surveilled (who knows for what these days, could be enough to just associate with the various protest groups / orgs), you can just assume that the border will be where they'll try to clone / download your data (phones, laptops, whatever)

    1. jwr · · focus · HN ↗
      I'm lucky to live in a country (Poland) where border agents can either let you in, arrest you if there is an arrest warrant, or detain but only with a lawful basis for detention (as in, you are posing a threat to others) and detention may be used only when other measures have proved pointless or ineffective.

      This makes returning to the country nice and pleasant. The border agents never ask you creepy questions like: Where are you going? Where will you be staying? What do you intend to do? (it's what US border agents ask their citizens). They just say hi and let you in.

      1. keiferski · · focus · HN ↗
        Poland border agents do ask why you're visiting. Don't know where you're getting that info.
        1. jwr · · focus · HN ↗
          My point was that Polish citizens do not get asked. This is different for Americans. US citizens entering their own country have to answer these bizarre and sometimes creepy questions.
          1. stronglikedan · · focus · HN ↗
            I don't understand why they would even bother asking a US citizen who is returning home these questions: Where are you going? Where will you be staying? What do you intend to do?

            Wouldn't everyone just answer, "home", "home", and "go home"? What would even be the point?

            1. moate · · focus · HN ↗
              >>I don't understand why they would even bother asking a US citizen who is returning home these questions...

              Racial profiling for one. Also "citizen" and "natural born citizen" getting treated differently for another.

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