Security researcher warns of chilling effect after feds search phone at airport | TechCrunch
Security researcher warns of chilling effect after feds search phone at airport | TechCrunch
Sam Curry says a grand jury subpoena ordering him to testify was later canceled following a US border search.
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The concerning part of this is that he unlocked his phone. The Feds were certainly within their authority to stop someone they felt was involved in a crime, but I don’t believe you are obligated to unlock your phone for authorities unless they have a warrant. Kind of like when a cop pulls you over for speeding then asks to search your car, you don’t have to say yes, but a lot of people think it’s some sort of order, not a request. I’m no expert though.
Come to Australia if you want some dystopian surveillance state bullshit. The border force in the country have the legal right to force you to unlock your devices, or throw you in prison until you do. We have no rights in this country when it comes to privacy (just look into the recent legislation that was pushed through parliament during COVID - they can edit, delete, etc. any data on your device. It's absolutely fucked, and Australians being the apathetic bunch of cunts they are just couldn't give a shit.)
This country is just becoming more and more authoritarian, and I'm not sure how many Americans know just how many protections they have and take for granted. Australia is fucking suffocating to live in today if you value privacy and autonomy. There are almost no barriers at all between the individual and the government, and it's only getting worse. I wish I had moved stateside when I was young enough for it to be a possibility. I'm stuck here now.
As an Australian I always take a burner phone when I travel and just reformat it after getting home.
Yeah same. A cheap little thing from Woolies does the trick. I just find it fucking disgusting that we have to go to such lengths to begin with.
Man that sounds horrendous. I'd heard it had gotten pretty bad there but hearing it first hand from someone who lives there makes me think how I would feel living there. Does the same apply to laptops? And is it just when entering the country?
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You're not obligated to unlock your phone, they're not obligated to let you cross the border. So you have a choice, turn around or unlock your phone.
If he was a US citizen he can’t be turned away at the border. Also still pretty sure a citizen has the right to refuse a search without a warrant.
I have a friend who refused to answer any questions at the border. They took him in for 6 hours of additional questioning, which he refused to answer. And they let him through. So they have no legal right to require you to answer any questions, but they have procedural authority to make your life difficult.
Right good point I didn't consider it might be someone from their own country
I think it is self incriminating giving them your pin but they can force you to use biometrics.
I heard that one time so don't quote me on that.
Correct. You can also "forget" a pin or pattern but not your fingerprint or face. I usually delete everything that I don't want them to see and then turn it off. So you don't even have to disable it. After a restart a pattern/pin is always required.
This is exactly what I've always been advised before attending a demonstration or protest