Israel airport security demands access to tourists' private email accounts

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by antr on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @05:28PM (#4071014)

couldn't you just give a bogus email account, like an old hotmail account? It has my real name, and probably plenty of spam waiting to be opened, but that is about it. If airport security says anything against it I can simply say that I do not use email that often.

Am I being too naive?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by pavel_lishin on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @05:32PM (#4071034)

Well, the penalty for disallowing access seems to be a refusal to allow you into the country. I imagine that giving access to a legitimate but old and useless e-mail address would be taken as a refusal, and you'd just get back on your plane and go home.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by toomuchtodo on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @05:34PM (#4071047)

It appears that even giving them your real email account will get you refused from the country.

As a US citizen, I'm disappointed in Israel, and would prefer even less of my tax dollars are used to support them after this.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by nyellin on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @05:43PM (#4071111)

Israel has an excellent Supreme Court which has stopped behavior like this in the past. From wikipedia:

The Court has ruled on numerous issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the rights of Arab citizens of Israel, and on discrimination between Jewish groups in Israel. It is unique in that its rulings can intervene in Israel Defense Forces military operations.

Most Israelis are equally ashamed of this. This isn't what your tax dollars support.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Israel

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by pavel_lishin on Wednesday June 06, 2012 @12:39PM (#4074753)

So my tax dollars support only the good things they do?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by nivertech on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @07:45PM (#4071591)

Most of US foreign military aid dollars goes either to various puppet regimes or back to US military contractors. Accepting this aid is a net loss for Israel, because too many strings attached to it.

Most Israeli citizens can't even visit US because they denied visa, so I wouldn't cry because of one US citizen who denied entry to Israel.

US frequently denied entry to Israelis who were born in Iran or similar countries, including leader of largest party in Israel - Shaul Mofaz, at the time Chief of General Staff!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by m0nty on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @05:37PM (#4071076)

The people most likely to maintain several "live" email accounts to get through this situation? Those with criminal intent. So once again this is a perfect way to make innocent people (who value their privacy and won't co-operate) look like a security threat.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by antr on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @05:34PM (#4071048)

but then, how might they know that I have other personal accounts? Are they going to put on a lie detector and ask me if I have a gmail account?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by refurb on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @06:19PM (#4071279)

This isn't your boss asking for your facebook password. The people doing security screening in Israeli airports are well-trained and experienced. As the saying goes "they've seen it all".

You say you don't have any other email accounts? How did you buy your ticket? Do you have an email receipt? No? Let me call the airline and confirm.

Any hint that your lying to them and you're back on the plane to where ever you came from.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by mrb on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @06:17PM (#4071268)

I imagine it depends on the gut instinct of the agent checking you at the border. He does not have to be certain you are a liar. If he thinks you are lying, he may send you back home, even if you have no other mail account.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Israel airport security demands access to tourists' priva... by slantyyz on Tuesday June 05, 2012 @05:48PM (#4071138)

I don't even know my e-mail password (1password) and I don't take my laptop with me on trips, so I guess I'd be in really big trouble.

[ Parent | on HN ]