Would you say more about your employer suing you if you cave under pressure and unlock the laptop? That sounds to me like your employer is asking a lot of you! Or, if you are bluffing to security about the suing, why are you putting your personal safety on the line to protect your employer?

It's a weighing of risks, really. I don't value neither airport security or my employer's secrets as highly as my own safety but will weigh in the risk as the situation develops.

If I am asked to accompany them to the dark room I'll just give up, unlock the laptop, hand it to them and then quietly inform my employer's legal team that a potential security breach has occurred (after I get safely to a hotel).

I really don't want to spend time in jail because of a nervous cop.

Very prudent. Thanks.

Anecdotally, I can confirm that my employer requires me to:

1.) Not allow my phone to be unlocked by fingerprint/face.

2.) Not carry USB sticks or similar portable storage devices on my person, to only transport them by courier.

3.) Not unlock my computer for anyone, including the police, unless directed to by our compliance office.

Or it's breach of contract and they can reclaim part of my compensation. I don't work on anything exciting, just Big medical data.

Yikes, I hope you are well paid! (Re: 1 and 3. 2 is table stakes in this day and age. In fact re: 2, would you be willing to share a scenario that calls for sneakernet by courier vs a network storage/transfer?)

Interesting that your employer would be so zealous about it, my employer's written policy is "Always cooperate with security/customs. If they want your computer unlocked, unlock it. Your safety is more important than our secrets, just call corporate security when you're released."

Yeah, they kind of said that too, with the addition of "resist for a bit, don't immediately comply, only back off if there's no choice". But yeah, I get what you're saying. Don't think I'll ever sign such a contract again though.

Your employer has no grounds to sue you with no tangible damages. Unlocking your computer for an airport security meat head isn't gonna compromise your employer's trade secrets.

They might have no grounds per se but when they make you sign a contract stating that they do, then they do. I shouldn't have signed it, I know, but I haven't planned on traveling anyway so didn't care at the time.