This has nothing to do with the Patriot Act, they have had these powers all along. It is however, true that they are rather nastier than they were pre-9/11 then again the world is rather different than it was before. In significant measure this is a side effect of all the liberal bullshit of we can't appear to be profiling people, even if a six year old knows that a single man from North Africa is vastly more likely to be a threat to the United States than a pur laine Québecoise Grand-mère.
Warning to all terbites crossing the border!!!
- Thread starter stinkynuts
- Start date
This holds true not just going to the USA but coming back to Canada. The Canada border cops can do exactly the same thing AND force you give them the passcode (there is a TV show with the CBSA tormenting a lot of people). Then they will go through all your text messages and emails. You have zero privacy.
The border guards have more power than everyday cops. Regular cops need a reason to stop you these guys don't. They can strip you naked, take your car to pieces, spread your luggage all over the ground - then not find anything and tell you that you are free to go. Leaving you to clean up their mess. Guess what there is not a lick you can do about it.
The worst thing you can do is be uncooperative all that does is give them justification to pull out all the stops and not be civil to you.
Like lovelatinas, I use a throwaway hobby phone that is always deleted right down to the last number dialled. My regular phone can be dissected at the border if they so chose - nothing to hide.
The border guards have more power than everyday cops. Regular cops need a reason to stop you these guys don't. They can strip you naked, take your car to pieces, spread your luggage all over the ground - then not find anything and tell you that you are free to go. Leaving you to clean up their mess. Guess what there is not a lick you can do about it.
The worst thing you can do is be uncooperative all that does is give them justification to pull out all the stops and not be civil to you.
Like lovelatinas, I use a throwaway hobby phone that is always deleted right down to the last number dialled. My regular phone can be dissected at the border if they so chose - nothing to hide.
They already know about your searches. Why do you think you were stopped?Also, I did several searches on highly illegal activities. HOWEVER, this does not mean I ever committed or would ever commit any crimes related to those searches. It was mostly out of curiosity. However, if border patrol had seen those searches, all hell would have broken loose.
There is a solution to this, but it is a PITA.This holds true not just going to the USA but coming back to Canada. The Canada border cops can do exactly the same thing AND force you give them the passcode (there is a TV show with the CBSA tormenting a lot of people). Then they will go through all your text messages and emails. You have zero privacy.
The border guards have more power than everyday cops. Regular cops need a reason to stop you these guys don't. They can strip you naked, take your car to pieces, spread your luggage all over the ground - then not find anything and tell you that you are free to go. Leaving you to clean up their mess. Guess what there is not a lick you can do about it.
The worst thing you can do is be uncooperative all that does is give them justification to pull out all the stops and not be civil to you.
Like lovelatinas, I use a throwaway hobby phone that is always deleted right down to the last number dialled. My regular phone can be dissected at the border if they so chose - nothing to hide.
You can encrypt your laptop using an essentially random password, something you can't possible remember, written on a piece of paper or in an email. Then leave the password in the care of a friend/spouse/coworker. Cross the border -- if they demand the password, you can honestly tell them you don't know it, that your friend has the password, and helpfully provide the phone number for your friend.
Then they can call your friend, and reach an individual who is NOT at the border, who has full jurisdictional protection, and your friend can honestly reply, "Sure I'll give you that password, just as soon as you show me a warrant."
With this approach you co-operate with the border guards to the best of your abilities giving fully honest answers as complete as you can make them -- it is simply beyond your power to give them the password, and they cannot compel the person who does have it.
Of course, once you clear the border to a location where you once again have rights, your friend happily provides you the password and you unlock your laptop and carry on.
Exactly what's going on here.Their job and the fact that they have guns give them a big ego. They are power tripping Americans. They can do whatever they want and you can't say a word or the big power trip will start. I haven't been across the border in over 6 years and will never go back.
We'll show you damn upstart Canadians.
FAST
There is a solution to this, but it is a PITA.
You can encrypt your laptop using an essentially random password, something you can't possible remember, written on a piece of paper or in an email. Then leave the password in the care of a friend/spouse/coworker. Cross the border -- if they demand the password, you can honestly tell them you don't know it, that your friend has the password, and helpfully provide the phone number for your friend.
Then they can call your friend, and reach an individual who is NOT at the border, who has full jurisdictional protection, and your friend can honestly reply, "Sure I'll give you that password, just as soon as you show me a warrant."
With this approach you co-operate with the border guards to the best of your abilities giving fully honest answers as complete as you can make them -- it is simply beyond your power to give them the password, and they cannot compel the person who does have it.
Of course, once you clear the border to a location where you once again have rights, your friend happily provides you the password and you unlock your laptop and carry on.
Doubt that would work. They will keep your laptop and more than likely you in a holding cell. They won't give a rat's ass who has the password because the laptop was with you and is considered yours.
It would be the equivalent of saying your buddy packed the suitcase that they found drugs in. They won't arrest him, they will arrest you
More to the point, I'm ok with a society where people who think along those lines are stopped at the border. Sure, all you're hiding is nudey pics, but what about the next guy?Doubt that would work. They will keep your laptop and more than likely you in a holding cell. They won't give a rat's ass who has the password because the laptop was with you and is considered yours.
It would be the equivalent of saying your buddy packed the suitcase that they found drugs in. They won't arrest him, they will arrest you
What? Any involvement in the sex trade as a worker or a "hobbyist" is conduct of "moral turpitude" and is grounds for exclusion from the United States. People have been denied entry for admitting to having smoked marijuana at some point in their youth. Next time you cross the Peace Bridge tell the CBP officer you're crossing to have a romantic tryst with Lashonda from Buffalo's backpages or you're headed to Tokyo Magic Hands Massage in Tonawanda and see where that gets you.Amazingly enough Joseph and Jane Average Citizen, are far more concerned about stopping people at the border who may pose a threat to them, than worrying about the fact that the Border Protection Officer might discover that you are a TERBite.
They don't really need your passcode. It just makes their life easier. They have software that bypasses the user lock. The forensic IT firm I use has software that can access standard android, iOS and BB security and they say its the same software that the Feds have.
I too don't have a problem with the CBSA or others hunting down child porn and drugs either.More to the point, I'm ok with a society where people who think along those lines are stopped at the border. Sure, all you're hiding is nudey pics, but what about the next guy?
Its when they go into God mode for tax collection that they become irritating. Especially when its not overly justified.
I remember 30 years ago when I was crossing the border back into Canada and was searched. I had a couple of wine bottles in the trunk above the limit that were not declared.
A nice big production was made of it. They dragged me into a room with a Jackie Gleason type (fat) officer leaning back on two legs of his chair. He asked me for my car keys and told me the vehicle was now impounded and the property of the Canadian govt for carrying contraband.
I was then asked why I didn't declare it. My answer, "I thought I could get away with it". I'm sure he was expecting some song and dance answer. He just went silent and told me to go to the counter and pay the fines. I knew he was bluffing since he had ALL my keys not just the car keys. Paid the fine, the LCBO taxes and was on my way. Turned out to be expensive but mediocre wine.
You haven't committed a crime. They may be able to keep the laptop, they cannot keep you forever. Their nearly limitless right to search does not extend to indefinite detention without cause.Doubt that would work. They will keep your laptop and more than likely you in a holding cell. They won't give a rat's ass who has the password because the laptop was with you and is considered yours.
It would be the equivalent of saying your buddy packed the suitcase that they found drugs in. They won't arrest him, they will arrest you
The usual situation where you have a remote accomplice managing the unlock key would be corporate security in protection of trade secrets.
It is overkill for personal data.
Bruce Schneir. The secure border crossing protocol is due to him.More to the point, I'm ok with a society where people who think along those lines are stopped at the border. Sure, all you're hiding is nudey pics, but what about the next guy?
I'm not going to google that name, so care to enlighten?Bruce Schneir. The secure border crossing protocol is due to him.
The fuck there isn't! Ever had cookie butter from Trader Joe's?The solution is simple
Do not go to the Fragmented, Paranoid and Militant States of America.
There really is no reason that you MUST go there, so screw them and their police state antics.
Ya...didn't think so
That's what I was thinking. They have the right to search your phone, unless stymied by a password? Seems odd.But if they can seize your phone, can they demand your pass lock #?
One of the leading experts on computer security. He literally wrote the book(s) on cryptography and the internet ("Applied Cryptography", "Cryptography Engineering") as well as several others on security (" Beyond Fear", "Secrets & Lies", "Liars and Outliers").I'm not going to google that name, so care to enlighten?
That method of transporting password encrypted electronic data in a way that is safe from coercive tactics against the traveler is due to him. I believe he made it up in a blog post.
He has an interesting blog: https://www.schneier.com
Load up your phone with gay pics and once they see a few of those, that's all and they hand it back to you. LOL!
