Just turning your phone on qualifies as searching it, court rules

Re:Just turning your phone on qualifies as searching it, cou... by Sharlin on Friday May 22, 2020 @07:41AM (#23271026)

They can simply deny entry if you're a non-citizen and don't cooperate. For any reason whatsoever. (This, of course, holds for any sovereign country that does not have an open borders agreement with a country that you are a citizen of.)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Just turning your phone on qualifies as searching it, cou... by cluenerf on Friday May 22, 2020 @07:49AM (#23271083)

If my choice is between not being able to enter the US and having US authorities go through my personal devices, I will choose non-entry. That part doesn't worry me so much.

What does worry me is that at the border I have no rights. The usual protections enjoyed by people inside the US don't apply to me. My privacy and dignity at the behest of the whims of whichever border guard I might encounter, and I have zero legal recourse if my rights are violated.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Just turning your phone on qualifies as searching it, cou... by yardie on Friday May 22, 2020 @08:08AM (#23271219)

This is not exclusive to the US. Every country's border works similar. They can do enhanced interrogation without probably cause, without a lawyer.

You're right to refuse is still intact but your request to gain entry will almost certainly be denied.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Just turning your phone on qualifies as searching it, cou... by sneak on Friday May 22, 2020 @08:13AM (#23271253)

Be careful, "enhanced interrogation" denotes actual torture, such as waterboarding.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Just turning your phone on qualifies as searching it, cou... by yardie on Friday May 22, 2020 @08:32AM (#23271364)

You are right. I've changed my reply to enhanced questioning.

It's a shame that GWB, Condi Rice, Cheney, Tenet, Ashcroft, and Rumsfeld are walking around, on TV, and sitting on boards and none have faced consequences.

[ Parent | on HN ]