Defending Privacy at the U.S. Border: A Guide for Travelers Carrying Digital Devices

[Goolabert]

I had my computer searched at US customs and it was due to the quick reply I gave to the customs officer who first looks at everybody's passports.  She looked at my passport and asked if I had been in Cambodia.  I said no and she sent me to a special station where they searched my computer and found nothing.

  I once did a visa run to Cambodia.  They had you wait in a casino between the borders with a free buffet and then go back.  So I never was in Cambodia, but had the stamp in my passport. 

 

I guess she thought I lied and was thus suspicious.

 

 A waste of about a half hour for all of us.

 

 

You did lie. Not wise when the proof is stamped into your passport. The casinos are not "between the borders", they are in Cambodia.  

[storytime]

I know the NSA is creapin' in on everyone's privacy, but I've never even thought to try and "protect" my data entering the country.  Who the hell would actually ask to look on my phone or computer and why?

The laws are different in our country, if you get stopped immigration can empty your bag contents and look but can only ask permission if they want to look in your phone camera or laptop. I don't know what happens if you say no.