Taking your phone across international borders – update

Credit: ZDNet/Flickr

You may have read a recent post on these pages about taking your phone across international borders. Check it at:

HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech – “Why you should never take your phone out of the country”
https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/02/why-you-should-never-take-your-phone.html

Below, Ars Technica staff interview Ahmed Ghappour,¹ UC Hastings law professor, expert in national security & cybersecurity, on taking your phone across international borders.

“If you’re a citizen, kinda stand your ground a bit, because I’d like to see what the record is for detention.” – Professor Ahmed Ghappour

Some other ideas discussed:

Mail the phone to yourself in the country you are entering to avoid crossing the border with it.

Can you be provided with a computer & required to log into your Facebook (or other) account?



Ars Technica Live: “What to do when border officials ask for your passwords”
https://arstechnica.com/video/2017/02/ars-technica-live-what-to-do-when-border-officials-ask-for-your-passwords/

If your are a citizen of the country your are entering, your can’t be denied entry, if your can prove you are a citizen. Hower, non-citizens may find it best to give up passwords to accounts such as email & Facebook. A set of accounts created for the purpose, can give you a persona which can be handed over without compromising your privacy.

Wired – “A Guide to Getting Past Customs With Your Digital Privacy Intact”, https://www.wired.com/2017/02/guide-getting-past-customs-digital-privacy-intact/
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¹ Wikipedia: “Ahmed Ghappour”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Ghappour

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