laptop confiscated or searched at US customs

[Miss Maya Blue]

so, whenever i travel i am entirely paranoid about the US customs people possibly searching my data. someone once put this idea in my head that they can, and they do, im curious if anyone has ever had this happen to them or heard of it happening to someone they know.

i imagine i will still clean things up when traveling, but i wonder if i am being a little too paranoid?

 

[Aardvark154]

so, whenever i travel i am entirely paranoid about the US customs people possibly searching my data. someone once put this idea in my head that they can, and they do, im curious if anyone has ever had this happen to them or heard of it happening to someone they know.

i imagine i will still clean things up when traveling, but i wonder if i am being a little too paranoid?

Simple answer no you are not being overly paranoid if you have data on your computer which would lead them to believe you are a SP.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Both sides of the border can and have done this in the past but it is not supposed to happen often.
Customs has this option and can do this anytime they want to. This was discussed before when somebody reported their laptop was searched by Customs Canada a couple years ago. He said he was pulled over for secondary inspection and his laptop was taken from him for a couple hours to be checked. In that amount of time the complete contents of any laptop can be copied by Customs if they please. If your laptop data is encrypted Customs can demand you let them in, or they can confiscate your laptop. If you don't want the government going through your laptop either make sure it is clean or have a second 'clean laptop' available for use if you plan to cross the border....

That said at least once a month Buffalo newspapers report of some trucker being charged, because child porn was found on his laptop!

 

[afterhours]

Canadian customs can do it on your way back (I am not kidding), so keep you child porn elsewhere.

 

[MyHobbyist]

travel with a "clean" laptop that is different from your every day laptop?

 

[rafterman]

I imagine this applies to cell phones too?

 

[WoodPeckr]

travel with a "clean" laptop that is different from your every day laptop?

Laptops are cheap now.
If you don't want Customs going through/copying all your personal business this is a viable option....

 

[WoodPeckr]

I imagine this applies to cell phones too?

Indeed it does!

 

[Aardvark154]

Although it may seem obvious, remember that a "clean" laptop needs to be kept clean that means that if you have put data into it during your travels, you have to have have done whatever you need to so that you still have whatever new data was put onto that computer, and the computer itself has to be errased and overwritten. This may seem overkill, but if it will save you being banned from entering the U.S. it is worth it.

 

[kstanb]

Yes Maya, they can and they do not need a warrant. But other than child porn, they will really don't care about what you store in your laptops

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_search_exception

"According to this position, the Government asserts that it may open, login, and search through all the electronic information stored on traveler's electronic devices. The only federal appeals court to address this issue directly, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, agreed with the government's position and held that "reasonable suspicion is not needed for customs officials to search a laptop or other electronic device at the international border"

are you still in Toronto?

 

[FatOne]

Canadian customs can do it on your way back (I am not kidding), so keep you child porn elsewhere.

I'd avoid crossing the border with a computer if at all possible. Just for the extra time involved in searching it. The less shit the better.

Unless you have child porn. In which case I strongly suggest that you load your computer to the gills with it, use it as your background and screen saver and bring your computer with you every time you cross the border in your van with free candy written on the side,while wearing a NAMBLA Tshirt and not the North American Meat Ball Lovers Assoc version.

 

[kenpachi]

Everyone carries electronic devices. Laptops, cellphones, ipads etc. When I was going through customs all they wanted to see if the electronic device turned on. they were looking for shells of laptops so people can smuggle drugs or other illegal substance. I did not know they were looking for data? If they were, then why not investigate every house. I'm sure they will find piracy downloaded music, apps etc...

 

[paleofreak187]

so, whenever i travel i am entirely paranoid about the US customs people possibly searching my data. someone once put this idea in my head that they can, and they do, im curious if anyone has ever had this happen to them or heard of it happening to someone they know.

i imagine i will still clean things up when traveling, but i wonder if i am being a little too paranoid?

US officials have access to CPIC. Police put all KINDS of shit on CPIC inclosing intelligence. So if they suspect you are an escort it will be on CPIC. Also they put "aliases" up there. So if they received any report or intelligence that you are Miss Maya Blue they will have that alias on CPIC. That is why US customs searches lap tops because of teh shit pigs put on your CPIC. CPIC is abused like crazy and a cop who hates you can destroy your life with no consequence

 

[Mod100]

Put sensitive data on a USB and either mail it to yourself or carry it under you left breast.

 

[james t kirk]

That said at least once a month Buffalo newspapers report of some trucker being charged, because child porn was found on his laptop!

I wonder what is taken to be "child porn" these days. I find it AMAZING that there are so many pedophiles out there. Are these guys with pictures of 5 year old children, or are they guys with pictures of teenage girls who were on line on any number of websites who may be in that 15, 16, 17 age range where you as a consumer of porn would have NO IDEA that they are under the age of 18.

I'm sure that I could go on x hamster (or any number of other porn sites) and download what I thought to be a hot young woman only to have her turn out to be 16 and I'm guilty of kiddie porn.

Hence why I don't download porn.

 

[paleofreak187]

I wonder what is taken to be "child porn" these days. I find it AMAZING that there are so many pedophiles out there. Are these guys with pictures of 5 year old children, or are they guys with pictures of teenage girls who were on line on any number of websites who may be in that 15, 16, 17 age range where you as a consumer of porn would have NO IDEA that they are under the age of 18.

I'm sure that I could go on x hamster (or any number of other porn sites) and download what I thought to be a hot young woman only to have her turn out to be 16 and I'm guilty of kiddie porn.

Hence why I don't download porn.

WHOA!! You sound like a diddler man. Already making excuses and setting up a defense.

 

[james t kirk]

As to "sensitive data" and a second laptop....

Why not just subscribe to google cloud?

You save everything on the cloud, and nothing on your lap top. Problem solved.

 

[John Henry]

Ever watch the show Border Security which is based in Vancouver . Canada Customs can check Canadian Citizens leaving Canada making sure that your not a wanted criminal or carrying something that you shouldn't have .

I've seen many times coming back at the Queenston crossing , US border guards checking vehicles when leaving the US . Usually they're looking for someone running away but with the long line-up that is created they get the sniffer dogs to run up and down the line to check for drugs leaving the country .

Pure and simple ... If you want to keep things private ( information ) , leave it at home .

I've been asked a few times my occupation or where I work . No problem but what if a SP is full time at being a SP and has no other job . What kind a answer will she give to that question and prove what she is saying . If they catch you lying your done .

 

[alex52]

worrying about your computer is easily solved. But non-Americans have to show source of their income whilst living in the US,
if some of the incomes comes from sex work in the US, that is more of a problem. Money and Terrorism are very closely linked in the minds of American authorities.
I am totally scared of American justice system same as everybody else is.

 

[Fun_Guy]

so, whenever i travel i am entirely paranoid about the US customs people possibly searching my data. someone once put this idea in my head that they can, and they do, im curious if anyone has ever had this happen to them or heard of it happening to someone they know.

i imagine i will still clean things up when traveling, but i wonder if i am being a little too paranoid?

Not being paranod. If you fit the profile you will be sent for a secondary examination where you will be subject to more in-depth questioning which could lead to full searches of your luggage and laptop. Customs officers have access to IT specialists who have special software to dowload the contents of your laptop to a USB drive in a matter of minutes. You also need to keep in mind that secondary examinations are often times excuses for intelligence gathering (personal details, contact info, associations or affiliations, travel patterns etc.). All of this info is fed into the data base to create your profile and shared between the US and Canadian officials as the need arises. Once your profile is full or complete through the intelligence gathering process and they have a formed a good idea of what you are doing (be it child porn, human or drug smuggling, or other illicit activities or making too many trips that on the surface dooesn't make sense), the next time you travel you will be sent for a secondary examination and the slightest infraction will be used to nail you, even if you have gotten away with the very same thing many times before. The intelligence gathered on you would be the real reason for you being stopped but that will never come out of course.