this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2026
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An Appeals Court panel has ruled that federal agents can legally search through travelers' cell phones without reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or a warrant when they cross an international border.

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[–] Calmarius@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Leave your phone at home, back up all the important data you need into a server. Keep all important information and documents you need for the trip printed on a paper.

Go through border without a phone, buy new phone and SIM abroad to avoid roaming. Access/download your important info through the internet using the hotel's wifi.

After the trip you can bring the phone home and it will only contain some holiday photos.

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[–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 31 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Just budget for a cheap ass phone for when you cross the border and don't take your actual device with you. Or if you do take it with you when you cross, make sure that it is off during the entire transit.

[–] hyacin@lemmy.ml 22 points 3 days ago (7 children)

make sure that it is off during the entire transit

I've never had them insist that I can recall, but I do remember reading, I believe in the TSA docs, that any devices are supposed to be powered on and able to be demonstrated to be working or something to that effect ... I guess to make sure it's not just a phone-shaped bomb or whatever.

[–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 19 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Even if they have you powered on, the fact that it's in the before-first unlock state means that the file-based encryption still holds and it cannot be unlocked with biometrics.

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[–] lntl@lemmy.ml 20 points 3 days ago (5 children)

Turn it off before crossing. They may ask you to power it on, which you may comply with. In my experience, biometrics don't work after a fresh boot and the device password must be entered before biometric unlocking works.

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[–] TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works 15 points 3 days ago (2 children)

This was already the legal case. I'm confused what changed. This was okay legally for international travel anyway because borders are not considered protect it by the Constitution. I'm so confused. What's different?

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It was gray. The used the concept of being outside of US jurisdiction to skirt the laws on illegal search and seizure. Somebody pushed back on this recently, so they made it less gray.

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[–] selokichtli@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 days ago

I mean, it's the US, literally nobody expected otherwise. If they were unable to do it, they would invent something, or coerce whatever they need to, in order to do it anyway. They kill children daily, in so many ways already.

[–] Lor@leminal.space 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Seems like you need to travel with a burner phone now?

[–] GrindingGears@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago (3 children)

It’s not enough. We leave such a large digital footprint anymore, it’s not hard to connect everything and everyone together. They almost certainly have some pretty crazy technology that we don’t even have access too as well.

The bigger thing here, is this is a supposed first world country using your personal information and communications to intimidate and threaten you. Heck to even imprison you. That’s third world country tinpot dictator-like behaviour.

[–] obvs@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

By what measure is the US a first-world country?

[–] GrindingGears@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

Absolutely zero, anymore.

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[–] FunnySalt@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That's a hassle. They won't find anything they'd be interested in while searching through my phone. Because I am a fairly boring man (and I'm cool with that). But I don't agree that they should have the right to do so in the first place, and I do travel fairly frequently so this is a concern.

I guess I can get a burner and create a separate password database that just has stuff I know I'll need to use while traveling (like airlines and rideshares). And memorize ones that I don't want them having access to, like my email account (makes password resets a risk) and bank accounts.

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nice thing for me is I already have 2 phones. I get a phone stipend for work so I can keep my sensitive personal stuff and my sensitive work stuff on separate devices. I work in the public sector, so it's especially important because of Open Records stuff.

But it also means that if I'm going on vacation out of country, I can just take the work phone that's already sanitized.

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[–] UnLocoPoco@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Reminded me of a video of Mutahar's where he was discussing about someone getting prosecuted as he gave grapheneos distress pin instead of his real pin when customs asked him for it. He was some activist or someone like that. US citizen in believe.

In thay video he told he'll wipe his iphone every time he enters the US and restore it from iCloud. Seems like this is one of the very few ways to defeat thia stupid law I mean what they gonna do if they find a clean phone? Arrest me for being way to clean!?

[–] DieserTypMatthias@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

At least I'll know which of my three phones to keep in pocket (I've got a Pixel 9a running GrapheneOS, iPhone 13 and Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual SIM).

[–] Prior_Industry@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

Hand over the Lumia and border patrol will be "wtf is this"

[–] Dreamcatcher@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago

I thought I was being original picking Nyan Cat as my profile picture for this platform.

Oh well, we're siblings now I guess. :D

[–] forbiddencherry@lemmy.today 21 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Registration walled. Anyone happen to have the full text?

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[–] latetolemmy@lemmy.world 13 points 3 days ago (12 children)

They can already snatch your phone beat you the fuck up and slam your bloodied face into the face recognition until they've got your device unlocked. I mean whatcha gonna do when they're peeling your fingernaips apart and screaming at you to blurt all your secrets. No shitty amendment gonna protect your fragile meat ass.

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