Yes, border control can go through your phone. Here's what travelers should know.
Yes, border control can go through your phone. Here's what travelers should know.
A growing number of legal U.S. residents and visa holders are being detained or deported after border agents inspect their phones and social media.
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Can't this be avoided, at least on Android, by simply shutting down your phone? Thought I read somewhere that they lock down everything, even system processes, after turning on again until you unlock it again. Or are you also forced to type the password and let them in?
Border entry is different than self incrimination.
If you are charged with a crime you cannot be compelled to give a password as it resides in your head. However if you use finger prints or face recognition to unlock it you're SOL.
Best thing to do is get an android and setup a dummy account. use that account when you get off the plane so when you unlock it there is nothing to go through.
The best thing is to just not go to the US
*border.
The android comment is because pin/gesture after restart.
Seeing a lot of responses that are wrong because they are talking about what police in the US can do. This article is about border crossing where border patrol can ask you to unlock the phone without any warrant/etc. If you refuse then you can be denied entry to the country (although I believe that is just non-citizens). Not sure if things can escalate from there.
Edit: which means if your phone was off, they'd just ask you to turn it on and unlock it.
This is the $5 wrench, right?
You must unlock your phone for them
You may refuse, and they'll put you on the first flight back.
And your phone will likely be confiscated and you will be barred entry in the future - definitely worth considering before planning your actions.